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Journalism of Courage
Malik Ishaq,the chief of the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi who is accused of plotting the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore,received a monthly stipend from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government in Pakistans Punjab province while he was in prison,a media report said Saturday.
While in jail,Malik Ishaq,who was freed on bail recently,enjoyed Punjab governments financial assistance ever since the PML-N came to power in 2008,The Express Tribune newspaper quoted unnamed officials as saying.
Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah,who has himself been under a cloud for his alleged links with the Sipah-e-Sahaba terror group,confirmed the disbursement of the stipend to Ishaq. However,he contended the amount was given to Ishaqs family,and not to him,according to orders of the court.
The daily reported that its own investigation had revealed there was no court order pertaining to the matter and that no such stipend was paid to Ishaq during the tenure of former military ruler Pervez Musharraf.
Ishaq was freed from Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore on Thursday after Pakistans Supreme Court granted him bail.
He had been held in prison for 14 years after being arrested for various charges,ranging from involvement in terrorism to plotting sectarian attacks.
