LAHORE: Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) has served a Rs100 million defamation legal notice to Federal Defence Minister Khurram Dastgir over his misleading statement that the action against the JUD was a part of operation Raddul Fasaad.
The legal notice, a copy available with Pakistan Today, has been served through Advocate AK Dogar on behalf of the JUD chief Hafiz Saeed. The minister has been asked to tender an apology in writing within 14 days, or face litigation.
Following the ban on JuD charity activities, Dastgir had said: “The actions against JuD were linked to ongoing Operation Raddul Fasaad and not taken due to mounting pressure from the US and action is being taken that ‘terrorists cannot open fire on school children anymore’.”
In reply to Dastgir’s statement, JUD spokesperson had said the JuD will sue the minister over his remarks. He had said the JuD was first to support the Operation Raddul Fasaad.
Meanwhile, in a Friday sermon at Markaz Al-Qadsia—JuD’s stronghold— Hafiz Muhammad Saeed said that the nation should reject the US aid with dignity and self-esteem. “If we stand on our feet, our economic issues will be solved.”
He further opined, “Today, Trump says that the US has given aid to Pakistan for 16 years but it was duped in return. We say, you were made ‘fool’ so long and you are still the same. America wanted to stabilise its occupation over Afghanistan but it was defeated in the region.”
Pointing out so-called contradictions in the government’s attitude towards the US, he said, “On the one hand, rulers are issuing statements against the US threats; while on the other, the government wants to take custody of ambulances of JuD and its charity wing, Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF).
“In past, US has imposed a ban on organisations; now sanctions are being imposed on Pakistan,” said Saeed.
Terming initiation of Pakistan as an independent and solid state in the aftermath of the US bans, he said, “A strong Pakistan can be surety for protection of Kashmir and Palestine.”
He went on to say that the US and its allies don’t accept any voice be raised against their designs in the region, but Pakistan’s rulers should make it clear to them that they are not willing to act against their ‘own organisations’ on American dictates.
Calling out India for increasing anti-Muslim sentiments, he said that Muslims are being killed in India for sacrificing cows.
