Pakistani Organization Renames Fearing Inclusion in U.S. Terrorist List
By Rasheed Omar, IOL correspondent in Karachi
KARACHI, Oct 11 (IslamOnline) - Jesh-i-Muhammad, a Muslim organization fighting Indian rule in occupied Kashmir, has re-launched its organizational set-up under the name of Tehrik-al-Furqan.
The move came after the organization feared its possible inclusion on the U.S. State Department's list of terrorist groups, sources said here Thursday.
State Department spokesperson Richard Boucher said Wednesday that the administration was concerned over the alleged "terrorist" activities of Jesh-I-Muhammad and is considering including it on the terrorist list.
Religious scholar Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai has been nominated as patron-in-chief of the newly formed Tehrik-al-Furqan, while Mualana Mazhar Shah, a central Jesh leader, will hold the post of convener of the newly launched group.
Mufti Shamzai, considered a staunch supporter of the Taliban, had declared an "opening of
jihad [struiggle]" against U.S. troops.
"We have reports that the Pakistan government is going to seal our offices and freeze our accounts all over the country," a Jesh official said.
Two weeks ago, the Pakistani government froze the bank accounts of Harkat-ul-Mujahiddin and Al-Rasheed Trust for having alleged links with the Taliban and Osama bin Laden. The two organizations, however, deny the charges.
"We have already withdrawn money from our bank accounts and reopened them in the names of our low-profile supporters instead of the frontline leadership," the Jesh official maintained.
He also said that workers and supporters of Tehrik-al-Furqan had been directed to get ready to move to Afghanistan at any time.
"Some 10,000 trained mujahiddin [fighters] of al-Furqan are ready to enter Afghanistan [at] any time to fight against U.S. troops," the official said.
