Pakistan Government allocated huge funds for Hafiz Saeed’s outfit

Lahore: The government of Pakistan’s Punjab province has allocated millions of rupees in its Budget for fiscal 2013-14 for the largest centre of the Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD), considered a front for the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba.

One document stated, “Grant-in-aid to chief administrator Muridkey Markaz (is) Rs 61.35 million.” The JuD’s centre is located at Muridkay on the outskirts of Lahore.

Shortly after the UN Security Council designated the JuD, a front for the LeT in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the Punjab government took over the centre in Muridkey. At that time too, Punjab was ruled by the PML-N. Since then, the government has allocated money in its annual Budget for the administration of the centre in Muridkey.

Officials have said in the past that the allocations were needed to continue “welfare services” provided by the JuD’s schools, dispensaries and hospitals across the province.

There is no formal ban on the JuD and its chief, Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, lives freely in Lahore despite a 10-million dollar bounty offered for him by the US.