In a significant change of stance towards Jamat-ud-Dawa, the self-proclaimed NGO headed by Lashkar-e-Tayiba founder Hafeez Sayeed, Pakistan on Monday told the Lahore [Images] High Court that one of the reasons for his detention was the increase in the "activities" of the outfit, which could "hurt" Islamabad's relations with "neighbours". Without directly referring to persistent demand to crack down on JuD which India and the US argue is a renamed outfit of LeT, Assistance Advocate General Haneef Khatana cited JuD collection of donations for war victims of Palestine and Lebanon besides its increased activities hurting ties with neighbours.
"According to the reasons for the detention, detailed in an order, workers of the organisation headed by Hafiz Saeed were observed collecting donations for war victims of Palestine and Lebanon.
"Moreover... Jamat-ud-Dawa had increased its activities generally and this could hurt Pakistan's relations with its neighbours," a press release by JuD from Lahore said.
The US has already banned JuD and sought a ban by the UN Security Council committee on terrorism where China reportedly intervened to ask Washington to substantiate its allegations.
The government so far had not forwarded reasons for the detentions of Saeed but at the same time defended him and JuD saying that they were in no way involved in the August plot to hijack a number of US-bound planes in the UK.
Saeed, who was released following court orders after a few days of detention was re-arrested again on August 28 and since then he was kept under detention reportedly in a guest house in Punjab province. Saeed's wife Mamoona challenged his detention in the Lahore High Court.
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