LAHORE: The Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), in alliance with the Difai Council of Pakistan (DCP), threatened on Tuesday to launch a protest movement if the group’s leader Hafiz Saeed was not released from house arrest immediately.
The group vowed to launch a nationwide rally on February 5, under the direction of their detained leader, against his detention.
They also warned the government that if its actions in this regard resulted in the Kashmir movement suffering any form of disruption or weakness then the blame would lie solely with them.
DCP Chairman Maulana Samiul Haq remarked that the motive behind Saeed’s house arrest was to placate India.
“Only a few days ago, a public gathering of the DCP has designated 2017 for libration of Kashmir, which had irked India. The house arrest of Hafiz will not, in any way, affect the movement. Hafiz Saeed was released by courts. His arrest is without any reason or justification and he should be released instantly,” Haq demanded.
The Jamaat-e-Islami sympathised with the JuD, with member Liaquat Baloch pointing out that the Hafiz Saeed’s only fault lay in the fact that he was exposing the truth behind India’s actions and brutalities in the Kashmir region. His arrest only proved that Nawaz Sharif, like Pervaiz Musharraf, had surrendered to the US pressure. “India is trying to exploit weaknesses of new American president Donald Trump, who, in turn, is putting pressure on Pakistan,” he said.
Saeed, speaking to media last night before his detention, was also of the view that pressure from Indian Prime Minister Narindra Modi as well as encouragement by newly appointed US president Donald Trump was the principal factor in the compelling the Nawaz government to order his arrest. The liberation movement leader said “Immediately after taking oath of his office, Donald Trump called Modi and discussed all these steps that the government of Pakistan is taking now.”
He asked his followers to stay calm and continue with his mission. “You should behave in a way that reflects that Pakistan, its integrity and freedom is our first priority. On February 5, every worker of party will be on the roads to express his support for the Kashmir cause,” he proclaimed.
