ISLAMABAD, Oct 3: An official of the Al Rasheed Trust, an organization banned by the US for its alleged contacts with terrorists, on Wednesday said that it was planning to impugn the decision of United States in the International Court of Justice, as it had “no links with any sort of terrorism.”

The organization whose accounts were frozen by the Pakistan government, is still operating in Pakistan as all its offices are open and its volunteers working for the welfare of the Muslims.

Mohammad Arshad, in charge of Al Rasheed’s Islamabad office on Wednesday told Dawn that it may approach the court of law for defreezing its accounts.

To clear its name for its alleged association with terrorism after the US government decision, it would approach the International Court of Justice, he said.

Al Rasheed Trust, has already approached the Pakistan government for defreezing of its accounts, as it had not violated any law of the land and had no connection with terrorists.

In a letter to Secretary of Interior Division, government of Pakistan, it was clarified by the administrator of the Trust that it was registered under Pakistani law, and did not receive any notice from the government of Pakistan for any violation.

Al Rashid Trust clarified that it was a purely welfare organization, rendering welfare services for the common Muslims and abiding by all the government laws, rules and regulations.

It stated that the Trust was registered in 1996, and CBR issued a certificate of National Tax Number 1267543-1, exempting it from all kinds of taxes.

Assessment of the past three years accounts of the Trust has been conducted by the income tax department and it was making preparations for the audit of its current year accounts, the government was informed.

It further stated that the “concerned” department of the government of Pakistan had issued import permits to the Trust for importing paper for publishing religious books and have also issued permission letters for receiving donations from philanthropists living aboard.

It stated that if any action was taken against an organization just on the basis of an announcement by a foreign country, that would not only affect the law abiding organizations, rendering selfless services but such an action will also be against the essence of Constitution of and sovereignty.

“We request the government of Pakistan to immediately restore Al Rasheed Trust’s accounts and nullify the US curbs on the Trust, otherwise it would not only discourage other welfare organizations, but also a large number of sick, orphans and widows would be left unaided.

It stated that it was providing bread to 300,000 people two times a day and 1,329 have joined the Trust on regular basis for the cause of serving the poor.