Action taken against JeM not linked to Kashmir blast, claims minister

islamabad — Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Saturday called Indian media reports of the Pakistan government taking administrative control of the headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) “fabricated”, claiming that the facility was a madrassa where students receive education and the action had nothing to do with the Kashmir suicide bombing.

His comments came after the Interior Ministry on Friday announced that the Punjab government took administrative control of a mosque-and-seminary complex in Bahawalpur which is believed to be the headquarters of Masood Azhar’s JeM.

“The government of Punjab has taken over the control of a campus comprising Madrassatul Sabir and Jamia Masjid Subhanallah in Bahawalpur, reportedly the headquarters of JeM... and appointed an administrator to manage its affairs,” the Interior Ministry had said.

In a video message on social media, Chaudhry said that the Punjab government took administrative control of Madrassatul Sabir and Jamia Masjid Subhanallah in Bahawalpur in line with the decisions taken during the National Security Council (NSC) meeting and as part of the National Action Plan (NAP).

“During yesterday’s NSC meeting, it was decided that NAP will be fully implemented. Some steps were taken in this regard yesterday and today the Punjab government took administrative control of a madrassa in Bahawalpur,” he said.

“This is the madrassa that India was doing propaganda over and alleging that it is the headquarters of JeM. Tomorrow, the Punjab government will give media persons a tour of the madrassa so everyone can see how it is functioning and see the truth for themselves,” he added.

Stating that around 700 students are studying at the madrassa, Chaudhry was quoted as saying by Geo News: “This step (to take administrative control) has nothing to do with the attack in Kashmir.

“NAP is our own security document over which all political parties are in consensus and we are implementing it.”

The government on Thursday also banned the Hafiz Saeed-led Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and its charity wing Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation.

This is the madrassa that India was doing propaganda over and alleging that it is the headquarters of JeM. The govt will give media persons a tour of the madrassa so everyone can see how it is functioning and see the truth for themselves Fawad Chaudhry, Information Minister