JuD chief Hafiz Saeed released

Lahore, June 02: A Pakistani court on Tuesday ordered the release of Mumbai terror attacks accused Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, inviting strong criticism from India. Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, the chief of Jamaat-ud-Dawah – a front of the Lashkar-e-Toiba – is believed to have masterminded the Mumbai terror strikes that killed over 180 people in November last year. The Pakistani authorities had put Saeed under detention on December 11 last year, after the UN Security Council designated the JuD a terrorist organisation. However, a full bench of the Lahore High Court today ordered Saeed’s release, saying there was insufficient evidence to keep the JuD chief chief under house arrest. The order came in response to a Habeas Corpus petition filed by Saeed’s lawyers challenging his detention. 

“The house arrest of Hafiz Saeed is illegal and unconstitutional and termed it as the violation of human rights,” petitioners’ counsel AK Dogar said. Apart from Saeed, Colonel (Retd) Nazir Ahmed – a top JuD leader – was also released by the court. Within hours of the Lahore HC order, India slammed Pakistan for failing to show seriousness in the Mumbai terror attacks probe. Home Minister P Chidambaram told reporters that the development again showed Pakistan was not serious about its “commitment to bring to justice the perpetrators of Mumbai attacks”. "We are unhappy," Chidambaram added. He however said that Saeed’s release would not affect the Mumbai terror probe being conducted by Indian investigation agencies. The Ministry of External Affairs also described Saeed’s release as regrettable. Addressing the press, an MEA spokesperson said that the JuD chief’s release raises serious doubts about Pakistan’s intention of acting against terror groups. It also raises questions about Pakistan’s sincerity into the Mumbai terror attacks probe, he added. Saeed’s counsel Dogar had told the court yesterday that there was "no legal grounds" for Saeed’s detention under house arrest by the Pakistani authorities. Referring to the government's contention that Saeed was detained following the UNSC branding of the JuD as a terrorist organisation, Dogar had contended that Islamabad had not acted on several UN resolutions on the Kashmir issue, which had been put in cold storage. He also claimed the UN acted on the dictates of the US. Pakistani Attorney General Latif Khosa had told the court during an earlier hearing that the government had evidence to prove the JuD's "prima facie links" with al Qaeda. This was the first time that Pakistan admitted that the JuD – a front of the banned Lashkar-e-Toiba – has links with al Qaeda. Dogar had also contended yesterday that while al Qaeda had been designated a terrorist group by the UN and several countries, it was not banned under Pakistani laws.