Despite UN ban Lashkar front face JuD openly espouses jihad for liberating Kashmir

WASHINGTON - Despite the United Nations (UN) ban and the Pakistan government claims to have clipped its wings, the Jamaat-ud-Daawa, the front face of the banned terrorist outfit Laskhkar-e-Taiba (LeT) continues to run its activities without any check.

JuD chief Hafeez Mohammed Saeed, whom India considers as the mastermind of the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks in which 166 people were killed, was put under arrest after the ghastly attack following the UN ban.

However, he was recently released by Pakistani courts for lack of evidence in the case, and since then his aides and supporters have become more outspoken, organising various public gatherings.

The organisation, which works as the funding agency of the LeT, says it is fighting for the right of Muslims across Pakistan and around the globe.

“We believe this is the right time for Muslims across Pakistan and around the world to stand up and show they will not tolerate disrespect,” said Khalid Hafiz, a political adviser to Saeed.

Saeed outrightly rejected India’s claims of JuD’s involvemnt in the Mumbai terror attacks, describing the lone surving gunman, Ajmal Amir Kasab, as ‘unreliable.’

“Why blame us? It is all because we support the liberation of Kashmir,” The Washington Post quoted Hafiz, as saying.

He insisted that the JuD has cut all contact with the LeT, and that the group focuses exclusively on education and charity work. The JuD recently showed that the UN ban was ‘meaningless’ by organizing a massive rally in Lahore showcasing its strength.

During the rally the so called humanitarian organization openly announced its continued support to jihad against India for ‘liberating Kashmir’.

Hundreds of supporters in SUV’s participated in the rally, carrying party flags, dummy kalashnikovs and chanting slogans against India and the US and in the favour of the LeT.

JuD’s top leaders, including Saeed, and Ameer Hamza addressed the gathering.

Although, the JuD had limited its activities after the ban, it continued its covert activities under various other names.ast year on February 5, it held a Kashmir solidarity rally under the name of Tehreek-e-Azadi-e-Kashmir. It also protested against Israel’s attack on Gaza under the name Tehreek-e-Qibla-e-Awwal. (ANI)