July 17, 2007	Tuesday	Rajab 01, 1428

ISLAMABAD, July 16: Jamaat-ud-Dawa, a prominent religio-political organisation, has distanced itself from the beliefs or activities of the group that was managing the Lal Masjid affairs, and has, in no uncertain terms, declared that no group or organisation has `any legal, constitutional or religious right to forcibly execute and implement Islamic Sharia in the country’.

The JUD, however, says it believes in the right of every citizen of the country to adopt democratic ways to voice grievances or to propagate and educate the people and appeal to the authorities for the implementation of the Islamic system `within the four corners of the constitution and law of the country’.

In a notice sent to Dawn through its lawyers, Jamaat-ud-Dawa has contradicted section of a news story published in Dawn on July 6 headlined ‘Late Night Round’, and has declared that the JUD is neither a banned organisation in Pakistan nor any of the arrested people were its members or were involved in the activities of Lal Masjid.

In fact, it has refuted any kind of nexus with Jamia Hafsa or Lal Masjid. It goes on to state that the JUD members have `never participated in any type of illegal activities which are going around Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa, Islamabad. Therefore, the question of arrest of any member of JUD does not arise at all’.

It has further clarified that `the people of Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa belong to a different school of thought’.

Providing a brief description of the organisation’s philosophy, the notice says JUD is a humanitarian organisation, and has also achieved distinction in imparting scientific knowledge in contemporary disciplines, including sports and Islamic ethics. Those running the JUD have been referred to as `highly educated, civilised and law abiding citizens who have never been privy to any kind of violence, subversion and anti-state activities’.

Our Correspondent adds: Whereas it is true that Dawn had mistakenly referred to JUD as a banned organisation, officially it has been on the Pakistan government’s watch-list since an action was taken against a number of militant groups and organisations that had re-started their activities in the country with new names after being proscribed earlier.

However, Dawn has been a witness to the police record, including signed statements of a few people arrested on the night of July 5 who have claimed to be members of JUD.