Islamabad : The U.S. government says that it has given money to Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), a conglomerate of Pakistani religious groups belonging to a certain school of thought.
The Associated Press news agency while quoting a U.S. Embassy official in Pakistan said in a report that the group had received a grant, but that it had changed direction since the money was given.
U.S. government website Usaspending.gov shows the Sunni Ittehad Council receiving $36,607 from Washington in 2009, the report said.
The members of the council belong to Barelvi school of thought, which are considered moderate as compare to other school of thoughts.
The SIC has been very active against the Taliban and had organized various rallies and public meetings in the past against the militant groups including Taliban. However, it supported Mumtaz Qadri, the assassin of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer and rallied in his favour.
The News Tribe tried to contact Sahibzada Fazal Karim, chairman of the council who is also a member of Lower House of Pakistan Parliament, to get his version about the story. However, Karim was not available for comment.
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