Under international pressure, Pakistan arrests Hafiz Saeed, the founder of terrorist organisation LeT
Surrendering to international pressure for curbing terrorism arising from its own land, Pakistan has arrested the Founder of terror group Lashkar-E-Taiba (LeT) – Hafiz Saeed, today, i.e., Wednesday, July 17, 2019.
He was travelling from Lahore to Gujranwala, to appear before an anti-terrorism court when the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Pakistan’s Punjab Province arrested him. He has been sent to Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore under tight security.
For the records, he was the mastermind of heinous 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. In Pakistan, he faces 23 terror cases. Despite India sharing a dossier with Pakistan proving Hafiz’s involvement in the 26/1 terror attack, Pakistan Government took no measure, until today, to arrest the terrorist.
The move follows a strict warning from Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in June 2019, to take adequate steps for eliminating home-grown terrorism by October 2019 or face the action, which could mean getting blacklisted. Pakistan was put on the grey list in June 2018. Usually, the countries who have weak domestic laws and find it difficult to tackle money laundering and terror financing, are put on the grey list.
Another notable point is that the arrest comes ahead of Prime Minister of Pakistan – Imran Khan’s visit to United States (U.S.).
Speaking on the occasion, the Spokesperson for Chief Minister of Punjab (Pakistan) – Dr. Shahbaz Gill said, “The main charge is that he is gathering funds for banned outfits, which is illegal.”
Earlier this month, CTD of Pakistan’s Punjab Police filed the First Information Report (FIR) against Hafiz Saeed for promoting terrorism and money laundering. In 2017, 4 of his close aides were detained by the Pakistan Government but were later released after 11 months after the Judicial Review Board of Punjab refused to extend their confinement further.
Besides, as India observes the 10th anniversary of 26/22 attacks, U.S. has asked Pakistan to act seriously against fighting terrorism and has also offered a new reward of U.S. $ 5 million for helping secure their capture.
The U.S. Secretary of State – Mike Pompeo said in a statement, “It is an affront to the families of the victims that, after ten years, those who planned the Mumbai attack have still not been convicted for their involvement.”
On July 3, 2019, 13 leaders of another terror group Jamat ud Dawa (JuD), including Hafiz Saeed and Naib Emir Abdul Rehman Makki, were booked in for terror financing under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. The CTD registered the case in 5 cities of Punjab and confirmed that JuD is collecting funds from non-profit organisations and trusts like Al-Anfaal Trust, Dawatul Irshad Trust, Muaz Bin Jabal Trust, etc., for terror financing.
