'Outfits cannot be stopped from raising funds for jehad'

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, FEB. 21. The confrontation between the Pakistan-based religious and militant outfits and the military Government is poised to take an interesting turn with the observation of the Lahore High Court that no one can stop these outfits from raising funds for jehad (holy war).

During the hearings on the petition filed by the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), the court on Tuesday was quoted as saying ``go ahead, nobody can stop you from fund-raising.'' It also urged the Deputy Attorney General to present the Government side on the plea.

Though it is an oral observation and not a verdict, it is a setback for the Musharraf Government in its efforts to rein in extremist outfits.

The petition, which says that the Government has no right under the Constitution to prevent religious outfits from raising funds for jehad, has argued that Pakistan is an Islamic State and Islam enjoins upon its followers to participate in jehad. It has complained about the recent statements of the Interior Minister, Lt. Gen. (retd.) Moinuddin Haider, regarding the Government's resolve to stop religious groups from forcibly collecting funds.

Since the Minister made a statement in Karachi a few days ago, the religious and militant outfits have been up in arms against him. They have dubbed his observations `un-Islamic' and called for his resignation.

What has irked the influential lobby of clerics is his statement that some of the religious and militant outfits are tarnishing the image of the country by resorting to forcible collection of funds in the name of jehad.

Lt. Gen. Haider's observations came amidst serious concern in the civil society on the growing clout of the extremist and militant outfits and its likely impact.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : Steady traffic on Track-II
Next     : Peace body urges LTTE, Govt. to start talking