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Masood Azhar’s brother, relative among 44 held in Pakistan (Lead)
Islamabad, March 5 (IANS) Pakistan on Tuesday detained in a crackdown Mufti Abdur Rauf, the brother of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar, along with 43 others affiliated with proscribed Islamist organisations operating in the country.
The crackdown came a day after the Pakistan government issued an order to streamline a process for the implementation of sanctions against individuals and entities of all banned outfits as designated by the UN Security Council (UNSC).
Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Khan Afridi said in a press conference that the action was taken without any foreign pressure, the Pakistani media reported.
Hammad Azhar, reportedly a close relative of Masood Azhar, was among those arrested in the crackdown.
“In the first phase of our action we have taken 44 people into protective custody. We won’t let anyone use Pakistani soil against anyone so that no force can intervene in Pakistan’s domestic issues,” Afridi said.
The government also froze bank accounts and assets of the organisations banned by the UNSC.
The Interior Ministry said that the actions will continue as per the decisions taken by the National Security Committee (NSC).
Interior Ministry Secretary Azam Suleman Khan said: “This is across the board – we don’t want to give the impression that we are against one organisation.”
The crackdown is being linked to the suicide bombing claimed by the JeM that killed 40 CRPF troopers in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama on February 14 and the later IAF bombing of JeM’s biggest training camp at Balakot in Pakistan, sending India-Pakistan relations on a nosedive.
A dossier shared by the Indian government with Pakistan last week on Pulwama also mentioned the names of Mufti Abdur Rauf and Hammad Azhar, Khan said. “It does not mean that action is being taken against only those individuals who are mentioned in the dossier.
“If we have to take over any (organisation’s) assets, we will do so. Assets can be taken over of organisations already declared as proscribed, under the Anti Terrorism Act, 1997.
“If we obtain any further evidence or if we have to investigate any organisation, the government can take any organisation into custody at any time,” said the Interior Ministry Secretary.
Khan, however, claimed that the Indian dossier lacked concrete evidence against any member and that the Pakistani government had demanded evidence against the individuals being linked to the Kashmir suicide bombing.
Action will be taken against the members if evidence was found during the investigations, he said. “In case we don’t find any evidence against them, we will release them.”
Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Faisal late Monday said that the government had taken over the control of all proscribed outfits operating in Pakistan.
“From now onwards, all kinds of assets and properties of all banned organizations will be in the government’s control,” Faisal had said, adding that the government will now also seize the charity wings and ambulances of such banned outfits.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.