ISLAMABAD – JuD Chief Hafiz Saeed has said that he will challenge thePakistan government’s ban on seminaries and health facilities run by him.

Saeed further said the Pakistan government’s crackdown against theseminaries and health facilities linked to him is “illegal” and it will bechallenged in a court of law.

Reaction from Saeed came hours after Pakistan, apparently under USpressure, took control of a seminary and four dispensaries run by hisoutfits JuD and Falah-i-Insaniat Foundation (FIF).

“After detaining me for 10 months without any legal ground, the governmenthas now issued a notification regarding taking over our schools,dispensaries, ambulances and other assets. It will hamper our reliefoperations in Punjab, Balochistan, Sindh, Azad Kashmir and northern areas,”Saeed said.

A release from the Interior Ministry said, “the federal government ispleased to direct that requisite actions with regard to freezing and takingover of assets (movable, immovable and human resource) associated with JuDand FIF shall be taken in pursuance of Ordinance No II of 2018.”

The notification was issued on February 10.

Punjab Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah has also said that on theInterior Ministry’s directions, Hafiz Saeed and his charities have beenbanned to operate in Pakistan and the government have already startedtaking over all the facilities, offices, schools, dispensaries andseminaries that belong to the JuD and FIF.

Saeed, however, appealed to his supporters to stay calm and asked them notgive any violent reaction to the government action against their charities.

“This is the most difficult time but the workers must remain peaceful. Therulers are acting like more loyal than a king. India never bothered toimplement UN resolutions on Kashmir but our rulers have got passed thepresident ordinance to take action against patriotic organisations like JuDand FIF,” he said.