Pakistani Charity (earthquake relief) Under Scrutiny in Financing of Plot

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT: Pakistani Charity Under Scrutiny in Financing of Plot
By DEXTER FILKINS and SOUAD MEKHENNET
Published: August 14, 2006

LONDON, Aug. 13 — British and Pakistani investigators are trying to determine whether the group of Britons suspected of plotting to blow up as many as 10 commercial airliners may have received money raised for earthquake relief by a Pakistani charity that is a front for an Islamic militant group.

The charity, Jamaat ud Dawa, which is active in the mosques of Britain’s largest cities, played a significant role in carrying out relief efforts after last October’s earthquake in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir.

It is one of the most militant of the groups battling the part of Kashmir controlled by India. In May, it was labeled a terrorist organization by the United States government.

British and Pakistani investigators are looking into the possibility that the group, whose name means the Association of the Call to Righteousness, passed the earthquake donations raised in British mosques to the plotters, according to two people familiar with the investigation.

One former Pakistani official close to the intelligence officials there said Jamaat ud Dawa provided the money that was to be used to buy plane tickets for the suspects to conduct a practice run as well as the attacks themselves. The money is believed to have come directly from the group’s network in Britain and was not sent from Pakistan, the former official said....

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/14/world/europe/14plot.html?hp&ex=1155528000&en=cde2f15bb2229bd3&ei=5094&partner=homepage