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JuD, ASWJ leaders' entry banned in Islamabad
ASWJ members say ban imposed on US asking, MPO to be challenged in court.
Leaders of Difa-i-Pakistan Council join hands during a rally at Liaqat Bagh in Rawalpindi on January 22, 2012. PHOTO: INP/FILE
ISLAMABAD: Islamabad authorities, following directions from the federal government, have imposed a seven day ban on some leaders of the Difa-e-Pakistan Council, including Jamaatud Dawa’s (JuD) Hafiz Saeed, Ahle Sunnat wal Jamat (ASWJ) chief Maulana Ahmed Ludhianvi and General Secretary Dr Khadim Hussain Dhillon from entering the capital.
Express News reported on Saturday that the ban has been imposed with a view to stop the leaders from attending DPC’s February 20 gathering, to stage a sit in front of parliament house, hence obstructing the public gathering.
According to sources, the leaders could be arrested if they entered Islamabad.
Meanwhile the traders community of Aabpara Market has also appealed to the DPC from staging a rally in Aabpara market.
Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik had earlier suspended the Station House Officer (SHO) Margalla after the police failed to stop the three leaders from making an appearance at a Milad-un-Nabi gathering.
Following the imposition of the ban by the federal government on the DPC members, a spokesperson of the ASWJ while speaking to The Express Tribune called it a ‘shameful act’.
The ASWJ further claimed that they will contest the imposition of the ban, imposed under the Maintenance of Public Order, in courts.
Reacting to the ban, Maulana Ludhianvi said that this decision had been taken by the government only to appease the American government.
The ASWJ spokesperson said that Islamabad administration as well as Capital police had informed them of the ban and that this was being enforced after they received written orders from the Ministry of Interior.
Earlier, Interior Minister Rehman Malik had said that the government would not allow banned organisations to stage sit-in in Islamabad under the cover of DPC, adding that strict action would be taken if DPC tried to violate the law. Though, those groups who are not banned, would be allowed to protest.
Earlier this week, the US State Department had issued a brief press release, raising concerns about Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed’s public appearances, including at the Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC) rally held in Karachi.
The release further stated that the UN resolution “calls for all countries to freeze assets of sanctioned groups, prevent the transfer of arms to them, and prevent sanctioned individuals from entering or transiting their territories.”
Reader Comments (28)
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I agree that these people seem like nut jobs but banning entry will make things worse specially after US statements against these leaders; it will perpetuate the image that the govt. is pandering to US pressure.
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Pakistan is the only country where UN designated criminals are worshipped as heros who gives hate speech openly. No wonder the country doesn’t command any respect whatsoever.
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these people are not dangerous even official know tha, Gov. is just under pressure form external forces
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When we have a strong Army, an Air force with excellent fighter pilots and the Navy which is competent to protect Pakistan’s water territorial limits, we do not need DPC in the country.
It is a group of several Mullahs who are yelling from one city to another to grab the attention of the voters for the next general elections.
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@Pakistan politics:
absolutely right
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One man’s terrorists is another man’s terrorists too.
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hafiz saeed is good man. i love his idealogy of islam!
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Ok, but please ban some 5 million illegal Afghan immigrants which are already in Pakistan. Or at least say something about them.
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Angry hateful mullas will struggle to defend themselves, Pakistani establishment can not see that! these guys know how much Pakistanis love them as they don’t dare to travel anywhere in Pakistan without dozens of AK47 carrying men.Recommend
@baloch ahmad:
he is very polite and soft person too
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@DevilHunterX:
u seem terrorist too as your user name
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Govt is puppet with no credibility, such kind of gatherings are result of Government’s incompetency.
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How cab you have city-specific bans?
Is this not one country?!?!
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So the need to ‘defend’ Pakistan against evil forces is only apparent just before elections? Also, how come Islam always gets into danger just before the elections? For heaven’s sake, open your eyes! these colourful characters are only here for time being, they’ll disperse into varying violent sub-groups eventually!
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However they can visit Rawalpindi for their weekly meeting at the GHQ.
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hafiz saeed..a soft spoken man associating himself with people who have several police complains of killing people from minorities. If hafiz saeed wants to remain credible he should disassociate from those people who give fatwas about killins ahmedis, shias, christians, hindus and other.
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These people never miss a chance to bring bad name to Pakistan. If they are to defend Pakistan, then we must do away with our armed forces who are eating bread of our people.
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@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui:
if these forces could do smthng without orders of govt.so dpc’s ulema nt mullah s are tryng to stop the govt to open nato suply.the basic cncpt of making ths council is far away 4m ur thnkng
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@Pakistan politics :- why are you writing comment by using different names ??
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shameless craps, they have the license to do anything in the name of islam. look @ above comments. seems like all these are terrorists
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We have to see a ban in this Holy Land of the Pure on Islamic Groups preaching True Islam. What a shame! We will always remain dictated by some one else!
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Pakistan’s inexorable destiny can be gleaned by the support for men like Hafiz Saeed. He used his ‘charity’ work as a cover for his nefarious activities. Besides, the funds he used were the money belonging to generous Pakistani citizens. I would be very interested to know what the citizens of Pakistan think people like Hafiz can do for them.
In this age of globalism, taking a contrarian viewpoint seldom helps. While it may stroke the ego, it does a lot of damage in the long run. China might be able to pull it off but not Pakistan. I hope common sense prevails and people see Gul and Hafiz for what they are. They are patriots, no doubt, but they are not visionaries. They do not comprehend the ramifications of their actions and their stoking of extremist fire.
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@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui:
You are assuming too much. Are you sure about the competence of our forces. This is the American clout working. Who can stand up to the Empire?
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When you read ET or other International news papers, or even to some extent other Paki english papers like dawn & the news, you get a feeling as Pakistan is some kind of Somalia or Afghanistan! But If you read Urdu Papers, you see a very different thing! You find the Pakis to be more religious & pious than Muslims of other countries!
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They have already spoiled half of Pakistan and if allowed complete their mission of fully destroying this country.
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Are these terrorists only dangerous for law & order of Islamabad only? I believe these are dangerous for whole Pakistan. JuD is internationally banned and Sipa-e-Sahaba is banned because of thousand of Shia killings. It seems illogical that JuD is banned internationally but it can’t be proved in Pakistani courts. Had our Government provided proofs in Pakistani courts, these terrorists would have been in jail, but our Government is not interested in proving these extremists as terrorists, because it lacks courage to face these terrorists.
Pakistan Government should stop mocking of International law and human values by setting these terrorists free. Stopping entry into capital is a joke.
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@faha khan:
Interesting, do tell us more.
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@Akhtar:
Paki is a derogatory term for Pakistanis.
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