Hafiz Saeed, the architect of the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai, has been placed under house arrest. The detention of Saeed in Lahore is suggested as the new-to-the-world US administration of President Donald Trump. Saeed is notoriously known for the deadly Lashkar-e-Taiba or LeT terror group that attacked Mumbai’s landmarks in 2008, leaving 166 people dead. Yesterday, not the followers but the mastermind himself, Hafiz Saeed was house-arrested under the strong influence of Trump administration.
House Arrest
Saeed, who was detained on Monday at his Lahore headquarters, has been navigated to his residence which has been declared as a sub-jail by authorities in Punjab province. The provincial authorities have also started to remove the banners of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) from the roads of Lahore.
Saeed disowned his role in the 26/11 attack and has distanced himself from LeT, while leading his charity JuD.
“This government has buckled under the pressure,” JuD spokesperson Nadeem Awan said.
“Trump is taking hard decisions against Muslim countries, there is open talk of actions against Pakistan also. So yes, this was a consideration,” said an official.
Triggering Agents of Arrest
The terror group supporters mocked Nawaz Sharif government of giving in to the wishes of the US, claiming that a ransom of USD 10 million reward was offered and accepted for information leading to Saeed’s arrest.
In June 2014, JuD was declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the United States
Punjab government’s action has been ushered in owing to hefty pressure on Pakistan post Trump has taken charge.
Post the Mumbai attack, Saeed was put under house arrest. However, he was released about six months later in June 2009 after court order.
After-Math
JuD chief Hafiz Saeed’s detention is suggested to substantially contribute towards easing out Indo-Pak tension.
Throwing light on Integrity of Pakistan’s Judicial System, the Ministry of External Affairs said, “Exercises such as yesterday’s orders against Hafiz Saeed and others have been carried out by Pakistan in the past also. Only a credible crack down on the mastermind of the Mumbai terrorist attack and terrorist organizations involved in cross border terrorism would be proof of Pakistan’s sincerity.”
