Jihadis engaged in earthquake relief work

‘Jihadis engaged in relief work’

ISLAMABAD: Several jihadi organisations are engaged in relief work in northern Pakistan’s earthquake-hit areas.

“The Pakistani government has said that if these organisations concentrate on work other than relief, action will be taken against them,” BBC reported on Sunday. BBC said banned organisations were engaged in relief activities in Muzaffarabad and Bagh under new names. Lashkar-e-Taiba was busy in relief activities under the new name of Jamaat-ud-Dawa in Muzaffarabad, BBC said, adding that the group had set up several tent villages and hospitals in the area. Similarly, the former Al-Badar Mujahideen changed its name to Al-Sufa and was engaged in relief activities, BBC said, adding that the organisation had set up tent villages and medical units in Muzaffarabad to help the quake victims.

Likewise, the Al-Rashid Trust, which was banned, also set up several relief camps and medical centres and was helping the quake victims, BBC added. However, the organisation’s chiefs remained the same, it said. Bakht Zameen, former Al-Badar Mujahideen chief, was present at one of Al-Sufa’s tent villages, BBC added. A Lashkar (Jamaat-ud-Dawa) spokesman said the organisation’s chief, Hafiz Saeed, had also visited the quake-hit areas, but his visit was not discussed with the media, BBC said, adding that several jihadi organisation’s were freely taking part in relief work. Locals told BBC that the organisations were doing a good job in the quake-hit areas. They praised the groups for contributing while one man said these groups were the first ones to reach the quake-hit areas and start helping the people out. nni