ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal has said that ex-militants are raising funds for welfare and they may join any terrorist outfit if stopped from carrying out such activities.

Talking to journalists after attending the passing-out ceremony of the Counter-Terrorism Force at Police Lines Headquarters here on Tuesday, he said that about 4,000 to 5,000 militants had quit militancy and were raising funds for welfare.

“What would they do if they don’t do the same [welfare works]; either we throw them into the sea or give them opportunity to join Daesh [Arabic acronym for the militant Islamic State group],” Mr Iqbal said without naming any individual or outfit.

He said these people were not involved in militancy anymore, but engaged in welfare works, adding that they were under surveillance, their accounts were seized and there was a ban on their fund raising.

Their welfare works were also brought to the knowledge of the United States and European countries which had been asked to let them carry out such activities as they could not do anything else, he added.

In reply to a question about the scheduled visit of the United Nations sanctions team to Pakistan, Mr Iqbal said the delegation would meet officials of the finance and interior ministries as well as representatives of NGOs.

He said there were some elements working against Pakistan and tarnishing its image internationally, adding that they were fulfilling the agenda of those who were against the country.

Earlier, speaking at the passing-out ceremony, the minister said the enemies were trying to spread anarchy in the country and hatching conspiracies against it. “We are well aware of the nexus between India and Israel. We are also aware of the message hidden in US President Donald Trump’s Tweet.”

Mr Iqbal said President Trump should recognise Pakistan’s assistance in the war against terrorism and sheltering over three million Afghan refugees who had been displaced by the American war against the Soviet Union.

The US should make arrangements to send the refuges back to their country so that peace could restored to Pakistan’s tribal region, he added.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2018