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August 23, 2001
1559 IST

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Drive against jehadis: Pakistan govt accused of pandering to New Delhi

A jehadi (religious war) group has accused the Pakistan government of trying to please India by cracking down on jehadi activists, leading to some 200 arrests in Sindh province.

A spokesman for Al-Badr, one of several terrorist groups active in Jammu and Kashmir, said the government of President Pervez Musharraf was trying to humour New Delhi with its action against jehadi organisations.

"The whole exercise is aimed at pleasing India," the Online news agency quoted him as saying.

"Jehad is the command of Allah. We did not initiate jehad on the government's order and will not stop it on anyone's order."

His comments came as Sindh provincial authorities took about 200 members into custody after banning the display of signboards and collection of money from the public by jehadi organisations.

Police raided the offices of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba, Al-Badr, Jaish-e-Muhammad, Hizbul Mujahideen, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and other organisations in Orangi, Liaquatabad, Nazimabad, Nagan Chowrangi, Chakiwara, Baldia, Saeedabad, Gulshan-e-Iqbal Quaidabad, Sohrab Ghoth and Shershah Colony localities in Karachi.

They impounded about 700 collection boxes, some weapons and a number of signboards promoting jehad.

A Lashkar spokesman confirmed 25 arrests and said raids were conducted at its offices in Nazimabad, Orangi and north Nazimabad.

Al-Badr said police contingents raided its provincial headquarters in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal area of Karachi and arrested four men, including the secretary.

He alleged that the police damaged office furniture and other goods. Raids were also conducted at the Al-Badr offices in Lyari, Malir and Baldia.

Heavy police contingents raided the central office of the Jaish-e-Muhammad at Batha mosque and Shaki Hassan.

Raids were conducted at its offices in Mehmoodabad, Manzoor Colony, Kimari, Saeedabad, Metrowil, Landhi and Dhoraji localities and around 40 activists were nabbed.

The offices of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen were also searched.

Hizbul Mujahideen, the biggest group active in Jammu and Kashmir, however, voluntarily removed signboards from its offices in Gulberg, Nazimabad, Malir and Orangi.

A Hizb spokesman said: "We do not want to indulge in any conflict with the government. Therefore, we voluntarily removed the signboards from our offices."

However, he vowed that his group wound continue its jehad in J&K.

The police on Wednesday also impounded 'charity boxes' placed by different groups in scores of shops in Karachi.

Indo-Asian News Service

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