—Protesters threaten to move courts if govt takes custody of FIF, JuD ambulances
LAHORE: Hundreds of workers of Milli Muslim League (MML), Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) and its Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) lashed out at the government for not taking a bold stand against US President Donald Trump’s statement in which accused Pakistan of giving Washington “nothing but lies and deceit”, and also protested against government’s planned move to ban FIF.
The top leadership of JUD, including Hafiz Abdul Rehman Makki, MML President Saif Ullah Khalid, FIF Chairman Hafiz Abdul Rauf and other leaders, gathered outside the Lahore Press Club on Tuesday and addressed hundreds of emotionally-charged workers. The protesters chanted full-throated slogans against US and India, and in favour of JuD chief Hafiz Saeed.
Carrying banners inscribed with anti-Trump and anti-India slogans, the protesters urged the government to immediately expel US ambassador in Pakistan and seek an explanation from him about Trump’s statement.
They also said that they would move courts and fight a legal war if the government decides to take custody of ambulances run by JuD and FIF to appease India and US.
Hafiz Abdul Rehman Makki said Hafiz Saeed was detained to please India in the past and now it is being planned to close down the organisation’s relief and charity projects on which millions of poor have dependence. “We have strong faith in Pakistani courts and we will fight our battle. We will take to streets if need be.”
FIF Chairman Hafiz Abdul Rauf made an emotional speech with tears rolling down his cheeks and asked that “is it our crime to help ailing humanity?” He said that the FIF reached the areas where no one reached, adding that they were being penalised for serving humanity.
He pointed out that there were clear verdicts of high courts and the Supreme Court over the absence of any evidence to prove accusations against JuD and its chief. “The courts have also given permission to JuD to continue with their preaching, relief and welfare activities freely,” he added.
“But despite this, the government often takes such steps only to please India. Hafiz Saeed was detained to please India last year and after court’s orders around a month ago, he has been released,” said Makki.
Accusing the government of becoming become a stooge at the hands of the Indian government, MML President Saifullah Khalid said that JUD and FIF served humanity irrespective of their political and religious beliefs.
He lashed out at the government and said, “India in the time of its choosing puts pressure on Pakistani rulers who immediately start acting on the Indian dictates sometimes by detentions and sometimes by uprooting ambulance booth. It is beyond imagination what kind of radical measures government would take to silence the voices of Kashmiris to woo Modi and to prove loyalty to him.”
He went on to say that the JuD chief was detained by the government for his “crime” of declaring 2017 as the year for Kashmiris, and now again similar announcement about 2018 and to launch countrywide campaign for this purpose has irritated India and its “faithful” Pakistani government. He added, “That seems to be the reason for their planning to take the reprehensible steps such as controlling of ambulances.”
