Al Daawa denies hand in sectarian activities

The Jamaat Al Daawa (JUD), which separated from the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LET) in 2001 said it was not involved in any kind of sectarian or negative activities in the country.

The JUD, which was put on the watch-list of monitored organisations by the government after the banning of three sectarian and militant organisations, is said to be next on a list of organisations that could face a ban.

Police were continuing a massive operation yesterday in which at least 25 more offices of the three groups banned last week were closed down.

Thirteen offices were sealed in the Rawalpindi area and seven others around Lahore.

Reports coming in from Multan, Bahawalpur and Hyderabad also stated action against activists and offices of the banned groups was continuing.

Asked about the possible action against the JUD, the in-charge of public relations in Al Dawaa, Mian Mohammed Asif maintained that one could not cite a single incident of Al Daawa's involvement in sectarian or other anti-state activities.

"We are a welfare organisation which is working on various projects in health, education, provision of clean drinking water, advancing financial help to orphans and families of those martyred in jihad in Kashmir and Afghanistan," he said.