Pak Govt. plays 'dumb spectator' as jihadi outfit JuD brazenly collects donations in public

Peshawar, Aug 20 (ANI): Groups of jihadi outfits, seeking donations to help wage 'jihad' against the United States in Afghanistan, have taken to the streets in Pakistan, without being deterred by the administration, who choose to turn a deaf ear to it.

On the eve of Eid, Jamaat-ud Dawa and Al-Badr Mujahideen activists were seen roaming in the streets, holding printed material handouts and banners, using megaphones to attract attention and donors. Also present were some activists of Deobandi Jaish-i-Muhammad.

According to The Dawn, some of these outfits- not the banned ones- routinely visit mosques and use the pulpits to invite people to join the 'holy war' in Afghanistan. 'Recruitment' in mosques in Peshawar's peripheral areas and other districts are commonplace.

Allowing such activities in full public view creates a perception that perhaps things are back to square one. The difference between extremism and terrorism that General Pervez Kayani so spoke about at Kakul last week would remain mere lip service unless the government follows through on its word and acts and not just speaks about curbing such activities, the paper said. (ANI)