Islamabad: Hafiz Mohammed Saeed-led Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) on Friday submitted a petition against government suspension of their welfare activities in the Lahore High Court.
JuD lawyer Advocate Dogar said Hafiz Saeed was founder of JuD and Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) and established 142 schools, and three universities. He added that Hafiz Saeed was engaged in public welfare activities for the last several years. The LHC has sent a notice to the federal and provincial government asking for a response from them within 15 days. Justice Aminuddin Khan heard this matter at the request of JuD chief Hafiz Saeed.
The petitioner stated that JuD had always been active in welfare activities and the US and India are creating a hindrance in the regular party affairs which is uncalled for. “It is unconstitutional to bar anyone from carrying out social welfare activities,” Counsel for the petitioner noted. He further said that the government must allow the party to let them conduct the welfare activities without creating any hurdles.
The High Court on March 8 extended its order till April 4 under Justice Aminuddin Khan to take no action against JuD chief Hafiz Saeed. After his plea about possible arrest at the behest of the United States and India.
The government lawyer pleaded the court to give more time to submit replies at which, Justice Khan gave another chance to the government lawyers to present their replies. Counsel for the petitioner, Advocate A. K Dogar contended that a delegation of the UN was going to arrive in Pakistan on Jan 26 and the government had planned to take strict action against Hafiz Saeed.
The counsel said that the Punjab government had earlier detained the petitioner under Maintenance of Public Order for 90 days. However, a review board comprising judges of the High Court denied an application of the government for further detention and house arrest of Jud chief as it failed to justify the detention before the board.
The lawyer stated that the actions taken against Hafiz Saeed by the government were based upon the pressure of the US and the Indian lobby, which had been propagating against him in the name of Mumbai attacks. He asked the court to stop the government from taking any illegal action against the JuD leader. The court would resume hearing on April 04.
Meanwhile, Pakistan's religious affairs ministry said Friday that the Indian government had yet to issue visas for Pakistani pilgrims awaiting to participate in the annual Urs (anniversary) of Ajmer Sharif which is scheduled to begin on March 19.
According to officials of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, around 500 pilgrims were supposed to depart for India on March 18 to attend the days of the Urs at the shrine of Ajmer Sharif.
The spokesperson said that there was a 1947 pact between religious and tourist relations between Pakistan and India, in which a special visa was issued to citizens of both countries to attend pilgrimage and celebrations of religious places. According to the agreement, India is bound to give 500 Pakistani visitors every year to participate in Khawaja Garib Nawaz's Urs but the Indian High Commission had not issued visas in this regard.
"Therefore, visitors have been advised to not travel to Lahore until the final announcement. With only two days left and the clock ticking, the visas have not been issued to the pilgrims yet," he said.
Officials said the Pakistani government was in contact with the Indian government in this regard, but so far has not received any positive response on the matter. The Indian government is not giving a clarity on the status of the pilgrims and the issuance of their visas. Every year, almost 500 people from across Pakistan visit India to participate in the Urs of Khawaja Ghareeb Nawaz.
