Musharraf's advice evokes mixed response

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, JUNE 6. The Pakistan Chief Executive, Gen. Pervez Musharraf's advice to the militant outfits and extremist religious outfits, to refrain from making reckless statements, has evoked a mixed response.

While the Al-Badar has refuted Gen. Musharraf's charges and urged him to act against elements indulging in rhetoric, rather than make `vague' allegations, the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen has agreed with him partially.

Gen. Musharraf's remarks, in a function organised to coincide with the birthday celebrations of Prophet Mohammad on Tuesday, have not gone unnoticed in the diplomatic community. Senior diplomats feel the military ruler has at last `mustered courage' to tell the extremist outfits and the militant organisations that the Government will not remain a mute spectator to their rash rhetoric. They see a link between the summit meeting between the Indian Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, and Gen. Musharraf, and the tough posture of the General.

At the same time, the diplomatic community would like to wait for real action to see if the Government means business. ``The proof of the pudding lies in the eating. All these years and months, the Government kept silent on the thunder from these organisations giving an impression that there is official patronage to statements, particularly against India and the Indian leadership. It is a good sign that the Musharraf Government has finally decided to check the reckless propaganda,'' a western diplomat said.

The Al-Badar chief, Mr. Bhakt Zamin, attacked Gen. Musharraf for making `ambiguous' statements, accusing some extremist outfits of misappropriating funds collected for the welfare of Kashmiri refugees. He also denied that the jehadi groups were behind sectarian violence in Pakistan.

Maintaining that his organisation had been prepared to submit audited accounts for the scrutiny of Pakistan's Interior Ministry following statements from the Interior Minister, Moinuddin Haider, earlier, Mr. Zamin said ``we spend every penny of the contributions made by our brethren under an organised system.'' Gen. Musharraf's statement had injured the feelings of the heirs of the ``martyrs and selfless mujahideen.''

The Hizb spokesman, Mr. Salim Hashmi, endorsed the General's view that some fake organisations were collecting funds in the name of `jehad.' The Government should take action against such outfits that brought ill repute to those engaged in a genuine struggle in Kashmir, he said.

Mr. Hashmi was, however, quick to defend his organisation, saying ``no one can point a finger at the Hizb. We are an open book and a responsible outfit.''

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Front Page
Previous : Russia 'sways' India on ABM Treaty
Next     : Ackerman speaks up for Hindus in Afghanistan