Islamabad, Nov. 15: Pakistan's parliamentary secretary for defence, Maj. Tanvir Hussain (Retd), said on the floor of the National Assembly in Islamabad on Tuesday that he is "actively linked" to the banned jihadi outfit Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT).
On Tuesday, participating in the National Assembly debate on the Pakistan Army's attack on a madrasa (religious seminary) in Baja-ur that killed over 80 people, he said: "I just want to inform this House that I too have been a member of this (LeT) organisation."
When a group of reporters met the parliamentary secretary in his chamber in Parliament House to ask him about the details, he reaffirmed his active links with the LeT and said he often addresses congregations org-anised by the LeT advocating jihad (holy war). "I extend support to jihadi activists when they approach me seeking cooperation," Maj. Hussain added, but did not elaborate.
He said there was a lot of difference between the militants fighting in the tribal areas against Pakistan's security forces and the LeT (renamed Jamaat-ud Dawah). "The outfit (LeT) has never attacked the Pak-istan Army, as militants did in Dargai (where 42 soldiers were killed)," Maj. Hussain said. "I am still a member of the LeT. I go to its congregations and deliver speeches," he disclosed. He said felt no hesitation in swimming against the tide as the government that he
is a part of is trying to wash away the "pro-jihad" past from the memory of its people.
The LeT was banned last year after the United Natio-ns declared it a terrorist organisation. Its leader, Hafiz Saeed Ahmad, later renamed the outfit the Jamaat-ud Dawah. Although it is at present on the watchlist under pressure from the US, Islamabad is reluctant to declare the new version a terrorist entity. The US has declared the Jamaat-ud Dawah a terrorist organisation and taken up the matter in the United Nations Security Council. But China put the US request on technical hold while seeking more details to substantiate the allegations of terror involvement.
"I don't let anybody use me. I am not a man to be pushed to act at the whim of any government. Notwithstanding my role or position in the government, I always prefer to speak my own mind on all issues," Maj. Hussain said.
Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, who advocates "enlightened moderation", is in the meanwhile ready to take on terrorists and their networks. On Sunday, the President had said his government will not spare terrorism, extremism and militancy.
In New Delhi, visiting Pakistan foreign secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan on Wednesday said attention must be paid to the policies followed by the governments of India and Pakistan, and not statements made by individuals. Responding to a question on the Pakistan parliamentary
secretary for defence Maj Tanvir Hussain (Retd) admitting being a member of the LeT and being proud of it, Mr Khan said similar statements were made in India at times and it was important to focus on government policies, and not individual statements.
Mr Shivshankar Menon, asked for his response on the matter, said he had been informed about the matter and was looking into it. "I was handed over a paper while coming here which says that parliamentary secretary Maj. Tanvir has said that he was a member of the Lashkar-e-
Tayyaba. I have just seen it and I am very surprised. Let us see, we will look into this and then tell you what is really behind this," Mr Menon said during a briefing here. Mr Menon added that India has asked Pakistan to take action against the banned outfits operating against India and that Pakistan has assured India that if provided with specific information, it will take the necessary steps.
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