LOC17:24
14:24 GMT
ISLAMABAD, Dec 12 (KUNA) -- Defending the governments decision to launch a
crackdown against banned religious outfit, Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JD), a federal
minister here on Friday said that the decision was taken to avoid being
labeled as a terrorist state.
"We are part of the international community and cannot afford confrontation
with the whole world," said Federal Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar while
talking to newsmen.
He said the crackdown was in accordance with the United Nations Security
Council resolution. "Peace is always the best solution to all the problems,"
he added.
Meanwhile, law-enforcement agencies continued raiding JD offices across the
country and, according to police sources, have arrested more than 300
suspected militants.
While, the JD chief Hafiz Saeed and other key leaders of the group were put
under house arrest Thursday night in eastern Lahore city.
Commenting on the arrests and ban on JD, Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, Amir of
Jamat-e-Ulema Islam (JUI), told newsmen that Pakistan was under intense
pressure of the US and India in the aftermath of Mumbai terror attacks.
Pakistan has been urged by the United States to extend all possible
cooperation to New Delhi to help probing the attacks. Swiftly acting in this
regard, Islamabad proposed to form a joint investigating mechanism but so far
has received no response from India. (end)
amn.rk
KUNA 121724 Dec 08NNNN