Pakistan: Punjab police ordered to keep an eye on Hafiz Saeed's fundraising activities

Rawalpindi, July 29 (ANI): The Home Department of Pakistan's Punjab province has directed it's police to take strict action against fund raising activities of Jamaat-ud-Dawa Pakistan (JuD), an organization headed by 2008 Mumbai attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed. Saeed, who is on the UN watch list and is accused by India of being involved in Mumbai attacks, has been engaged in fundraising throughout the country via the organisation's charity wing- Falah-e-Insayat Foundation (FIF), reports the Dawn. The Home Department has directed additional inspector general of police operations Punjab, divisional police chiefs across the province for details of fundraising by JuD and other proscribed organisations citing the activity is against the law. Reports suggest that JuD is making efforts to collect funds through fitrana, zakat and sadkaats. The Home Department said that members of the organisations were more active during Ramazan and distributed pamphlets, put up posters at various locations in Matiari Sindh, inviting people to give them their charity money. Meanwhile, FIF activists have asked locals in Matirai to make donations to the group. The Madressah Umar Bin Khatab (RA) in new Saeedabad and Falah Markaz in New Hala, Matori have been designated as donation points for the fundraising. A senior police official has said the action was based on reports from intelligence agencies who watched proscribed organisations. He added that the step should have been taken earlier but the provincial government has been reluctant to take direct action against religious parties without concrete reason. (ANI)