[Dawn] AS Pakistain's government and security apparatus struggles to get its message across, an organization with militancy as its main claim to fame presents a stark contrast.Jamaat-ud-Dawa
...the front organization of Lashkar-e-Taiba...
, as the Lashkar-e-Taiba
...the
Army of the Pure,an Ahl-e-Hadith terror organization founded by Hafiz Saeed. LeT masquerades behind the Jamaat-ud-Dawa facade within Pakistain and periodically blows things up and kills people in India. Despite the fact that it is
banned, always an interesting concept in Pakistain, the organization remains an blatant tool and perhaps an arm of the ISI...
has been known since it was banned, was a relative latecomer to Twitter, only arriving in February this year. But whosoever manages the account @JuD_Official appears media savvy, generally polite and responsive.
The group is seen as a 'clinically-efficient killing machine' because of its turban activities in Indian-held Kashmire over the years. Its members have also been charged with the ruthless and brutal terror attack on civilians in Mumbai in 2008, all but propelling the two countries towards a war.
At the same time, the group's 'welfare' arm was seen in action when that devastating earthquake shattered millions of lives in Pak Kashmire in 2005. In a tell-tale sign of perhaps their dual role, its volunteers, engaged in the relief effort, were reluctant to be caught on camera.
While Hafiz Muhammad Saeed
...who would be wearing a canvas jacket with very long sleeves anyplace but Pakistain...
, the Saudi-educated firebrand
...
firebrandsare noted more for audio volume and the quantity of spittle generated than for any actual logic in their arguments...
orator and JuD founder, may have vehemently rubbished Western allegations that his organization has military ambitions beyond its avowed stance on Kashmire, some of its actions have raised many an eyebrow.
For example, the Mumbai terror attacks could hardly have been connected with Kashmire, and were viewed as an attempt to ignite an India-Pakistain conflagration. Such a horror would have diverted Pakistain's attention away from its fight against Al Qaeda-Taliban. Hence, the doubts and allegations.
Therefore, it is hardly surprising that the group is conscious of its image and keen to be viewed in terms other than a lethal turban force which has worked in close coordination with the army and intelligence services.
While at public meetings Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and other leaders of his organization unmistakably breathe fire, his TV appearances are marked by a measured tone and a fairly plausible line of argument. But it is social media where JuD's sophistication becomes apparent.
Earlier this week, Hindustan Times carried a story that Ziaur Rehman Lakhvi, one of the key accused facing trial for the Mumbai carnage in Rawalpindi's Adiyala prison, has fathered a child during his four-year incarceration. The child is said to be two years old.
The report says this was disclosed to his Indian interrogators by another key suspect, Abu Jundal, who was extradited from Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in their national face...
. Abu Jundal is reported to have said this good news was given to him by Lakhvi himself in a phone conversation.
According to this report, Abu Jundal's answers led his Indian intelligence interrogators to believe that in prison "Lakhvi is treated like a state guest and not a terrorist." So much so that his "youngest wife" was allowed prison visits and afforded privacy.
I am unaware whether Pak law allows conjugal visits in prison and also mindful of the fact that with a couple of weeks to go for the Mumbai carnage's fourth anniversary, pressure would be mounting on Pakistain to do more to convict the accused.