JuD confirms banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi founder Malik Ishaq was at Difa-e-Pakistan rally

Islamabad, Feb 18 (ANI): Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD) spokesperson Yahya Mujahid has said Malik Ishaq, one of the founders of the banned militant outfit Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, was present on the stage of the recent Defense of Pakistan Council (DPC) rally in Multan.

Mujahid contradicted former spymaster Hamid Gul's statement in a TV interview in which he claimed Ishaq was not part of the rally, and that a photo of him in The Express Tribune was "doctored". He also questioned the credibility of the paper's reporter.

However, Mujahid said Gul was wrong, and added that it was the DPC's unanimous decision that Ishaq will not address the rally, The Express Tribune reports. ujahid added the rule was that any person addressing the DPC rally will not be a member of a banned outfit.

He further said that the DPC rallies were being conducted in a very organised manner. Funding is provided by member parties, and host parties for different rallies funded the respective events in their cities.

JuD hosted the Lahore rally, Ahle-Sunnat-Wal-Jamat organised the one in Multan, Sheikh Rasheed hosted the Rawalpindi event and in Karachi Jamat-e-Islami was the DPC host.

Mujahid said all involved parties have nationwide networks, which support them in managing events. (ANI)