Pak Challenges Hafeez Saeed’s Release in Supreme Court

Pakistan’s Punjab province government has filed a petition in Supreme Court challenging release of outlawed Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed from house arrest, who is allegedly linked to Mumbai terror attacks.

Saeed needed to be detained for his own “protection”, said the petition filed against the earlier verdict of Lahore High Court.

The founder of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group, Saeed was released from house arrest on June 2 following the orders of the Lahore High Court after six months of detention.

Rana Sanaullah, Punjab government’s advocate said that according to his information Saeed cannot move to any place without informing the government.

Pakistani officials maintain that the restrictions imposed on JuD by UN Security Council – including a ban on travel and freezing the organisation’s bank accounts – are being implemented.

59-year-old Saeed and several of his aides were placed under house arrest in December last year in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks following which his organisation was declared a front for the LeT by the United Nations Security Council. They were all subsequently freed.

India had recently expressed concern at the delay by Pakistani authorities in appealing against the release of Saeed. Since his release, Saeed has held meetings with several political hardliners and militant leaders, including United Jehad Council chief Syed Salahuddin.