Author: Agencies
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: August 21, 2008
URL: http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/LeT-Jaish-reopen-offices-in-Pak-after-Musharrafs-exit/351622/
Militant groups that were banned during the
tenure of former President Pervez Musharraf, have again become active and
reopened their offices in the southern Pakistani port city of Karachi.
The Lashker-e-Toiba, which was renamed Jamaat-ud-Dawa
after it was outlawed, had an office at Salman Terrace in Gulshan-e-Iqbal,
near the National Stadium, that was closed after the government banned it,
reports said.
The LeT opened a temporary office at Jamia
Darasat al-Islamia, opposite Safari Park in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, and after Musharraf's
resignation on Monday, the main office at Salman Terrace has been reopened,
the Daily Times reported on Thursday.
Similarly, the Jaish-e-Mohammad too reopened
its office in Manghopir on Wednesday. Before it was banned, the JeM had its
office in Nazimabad and that office remains closed.
The Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan, now known as
Ahle Sunnat-waal-Jamaat Pakistan, had its headquarters at Masjid Siddique-e-Akbar
near Nagan Chowrangi in north Karachi. Even after it was banned, it stayed
active in the same area.
Though the office remains closed, Sipah leaders
have been conducting meetings in the building for the past two days, the paper
reported.
The central leader of the Sipah, Maulana Abdul
Ghafoor Nadeem, told Daily Times that the ban on all religious organisations,
including his group, was a part of the "American" agenda.
"The ban created hatred and anger amongst
our supporters, as the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan is patriotic and its leaders
were chosen by the people to be members of parliament," said Nadeem.
