Haider under fire for remarks on Jehadi outifts

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, MAY 31. The Islamic Ideological Council of Pakistan has chided the Interior Minister, Lt. Gen. (retd.) Moinuddin Haider, for his statements against Jehadi (those engaged in the fight in defence of Islam) outfits.

The reported warning issued by the Council, a government body, assumes significance as the military government is all set to launch an ambitious `de-weaponisation' programme from tomorrow to contain sectarian and extremist religious organisations. The much-talked about plan envisages recovery of arms from the various outfits and individuals.

According to many surveys and estimates, illegal arms have come into Pakistan in a big way particularly in the aftermath of the Afghan war.

In the course of a three-day meeting, the Council has observed that Mr. Haider's attitude towards the Jehadi outfits is not appropriate and he and his Ministry should be careful in making statements on them.

It has said that the stand taken by these outfits is right and any operation against them will be opposed. In the concluding session, it strongly criticised Mr. Haider for his recent statements and observed that he had been talking the language of the Indian Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani.

The Council also said that creating confusion about the outfits was contrary to Jehad and its objectives. It said that these outfits were completing national, Pakistani and Islamic mission.

``They (Jehadis) don't indulge in political or religious affairs and their main target are India, Israel, Russia and Serbia, where Muslims are being subjected to worst ever atrocities,'' the Council is believed to have observed.

Mr. Haider had been engaged in a war of words with the Jehadi outfits for the last few months over the alleged forcible collection of funds and public display of arms. Annoyed with this, some of the outfits filed a writ petition in the Lahore High Court.

The Court in its oral observations in the course of the hearings said that no one had the right to stop collection of jehad funds. In the wake of the controversy, the Interior Ministry had sought advice from the Council on the behaviour of the Jehadi outfits.

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