ISLAMABAD – The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has launched an investigation against a prominent cleric over dubious transactions in his bank accounts, local media reported on Tuesday.
The anti-terrorism wing of the agency is investigating Moulana Tahir Ashrafi, the chairman of Pakistan Ulema Council after the matter of suspicious funding surfaced.
The religious scholar is facing the allegation of receiving funds from western countries to promote their agenda in the country.
The FIA has issued a notice to Ashrafi, directing him to appear before the investigator on December 26. The investigation, according to the agency, could be extended to more persons.
Meanwhile, Ashraf has denied the allegations, stating that there was no dubious transaction from his bank accounts.
He said, “I am in Saudi Arabia and will appear before the FIA team after reaching Pakistan”.
In March 2017, the Central Executive Body (Majlis-i-Shoora) and the common body (Majlis-i-Amoomi) of the Pakistan Ulema Council had alleged that its former head Moulana Tahir Ashrafi secretly received funds from international NGO’s.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/tahir-ashrafi-secretly-received-funds-from-international-ngos-alleges-former-colleague/
The allegation was leveled by PUC Secretary General Sahibzada Zahid Mahmood Qasmi who claimed that there was solid evidence of misuse of office by Maulana Tahir Ashrafi as he had entered into clandestine contracts with the US State Department and other foreign agencies to secure hefty funds.
Announcing the decisions of the council’s meeting, Sahibzada Zahid Mahmood Qasmi, who is also a member of Islamic Ideology Council, maintained that the supreme bodies of PUC had also delinked him from the subordinate bodies of the council Wafaul Masajid Pakistan, Ilm-o-Aman Foundation and Tahaffuz-i-Madaris-i-Diniya.
Qasmi said that Tahir Ashrafi had inked international agreements in flagrant contradiction to Islamic principles and constitution of PUC.
“Moulana had secretly set up Ilm-o-Aman foundation in Lahore for which he received funds in a bank account through international NGO’s,” alleged Qasmi.
He further said that the PUC condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations in its meeting and put its weight behind the recently launched operation Raddul Fasaad to hunt down the militants across the country.
Alleged Contract Between Ashrafi, USA and Germany
On March 14 2017, Ashrafi’s alleged contracts signed with foreign countries for promoting their programmes were leaked online.
Ilm-o-Aman Foundation is allegedly in contract with Germany for its project “Countering Violent Extremism on Social Media and in Madrassas,” read the document.
The document states, “The donor shall grant the recipient in the full-financing mode a non-repayable allocation of up to four million three hundred forty-four thousand five hundred sixteen Pakistan Rupees (4,344,516 PKR)”
The authorised period for the project is August 1, 2016 to February 13, 2017.
Alleged contract between Ilm-o-Aman Foundation and Germany can be read here;
Through his foundation, Ashrafi also signed a contract with US-based organisation, “The International Center for Religion & Diplomacy” to provide on-going consultation, training and implementation services for ICRD programming in Pakistan.
According to the contract, “ICRD and Pakistan partner Ilm-o-Aman Foundation will establish, train, mentor and deploy Rapid Response Teams for the mitigation of inter-sectarian violence in Pakistan”.
The whole contract can be read here;
