Jamatud Dawa holds prayer ceremony for Abu Abdullah

Rights groups condemn participation of PML-N MPA in event.

LAHORE: On Sunday, a programme was organised under the banner of Tehrik Azadi-i-Kashmir, a code word for Jamatud Dawa which has been banned since the 2008 Mumbai attack, at the Government Degree College Shahdara’s ground. It was attended by more than 500 people. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MPA Rana Muhammad Iqbal was also in attendance.

The programme started after Asr prayers and continued till after sunset. The event was organised to remember and offer prayers for Abu Abdullah Muhammad Irfan bin Abdul Sattar, resident of Mustafabad, Lajpat Road Shahdara, who died at Baramula recently.

Hafiz Makki in his address spoke about the importance of jihad and frequently referred to the participants as ‘tigers of Shahdara’ asking them to fight for the innocent.

He said that it was the religious obligation of every Muslim to fight for God. He rejected ‘anti-jihad’ clerics, saying there was no need for a caliph for jihad. He also said that the Muslims of Pakistan should set up a caliphate to be waged through jihad. He said that Mujahids did not covet any officer or political power in Pakistan, and they had no desire other than to set up a base camp in Delhi.

Makki paid tribute to Abu Abdullah and said that the brave tiger of Islam had reached Baramula after killing several Indian military men and after crossing an eight feet high and eight feet wide electric fence.

Abu Abdullah’s father Abdul Sattar said that he was not upset about the death of his son. He said that Abu Abdullah used to watch TV like other young men but he had asked his son to mend his ways. He said that his son adopted the way of jihad and with the permission of his parents went for jihad. Abdul Sattar said that the entire family was proud and contented at the death of their son for Islam.

The Jamatud Dawa’s flags with image of swords were hoisted at the venue and along GT Road from Shahdara Chowk to Shahdara Station. Banners urging jihad were also displayed. Jamatud Dawa’s security and police personnel were deployed outside the ground.

A member of the Jamatud Dawa, on condition of anonymity, told The Express Tribune that its leaders had issued instructions for organising public programmes highlighting the importance of jihad.

He said such programmes are organised whenever some opportunity presents itself. He said, recent activities in Lahore included, fund raising activities for flood victims and protests after the sentencing of Dr Aafia Siddiqui.

Several lawyers and rights activists have condemned PML-N MPA Rana Muhammad Iqbal’s participation in the event, saying it would be an encouragement to extremists.

Free Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement chairman Sheikh Anis Saadi told The Express Tribune that participating in this programme by a parliamentarian suggested that the government was tolerant of if actually not patronising such activities. He said Iqbal’s attendance showed his party’s policy of having close ties with militants. He said it was already established that Law Minister Rana Sanaullah had links with militants.

Rana Muhammad Iqbal, MPA from PP 137, told The Express Tribune that although he attended the event it did not mean that he supported militancy.

He said he attended the programme as he was the elected representative of the area. He said the programme was arranged to remember a martyr. He said he believed joining such an event a source of blessing.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 18^th, 2010.