Pakistan shielding Hafiz Saeed by mainstreaming his political party: MEA

NEW DELHI: Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) today lashed out at Pakistan for its inaction on Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist and 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed and said that Islamabad is shielding Saeed by "mainstreaming" his political party + .
"Pakistan is mandated under UN Law to take action against Hafiz Saeed but instant developments coming out of Pakistan seems to be an attempt by Pakistan establishment to mainstream him and his system as a political party. It is a way of shielding what he used to do earlier," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.



Kumar comments came at a time when a Pakistan court ordered the election commission to allow the registration of Saeed's Milli Muslim League as a political party.

A day earlier, a Pakistani court had extended a stay against the "possible arrest" + of the JuD chief till April 4.

Taking a stern view of the developments taking place in Pakistan, MEA spokesperson today said that India's concerns of inaction against Saeed have been echoed by the entire international community as well.

"The true face of Hafiz Saeed & Pakistan is for all to see. Not only India but also the entire international community feels that the action which should be taken against Hafiz Saeed is not being taken," he added.

Recently, Pakistan has been facing heat from the international community to do more when it comes to taking action against terror activities and terror groups emanating from its soil.

Last month, an intergovernmental money-laundering watchdog, Financial Action Task Force (FATF), put Pakistan on a grey list for its continued support to terror groups such as those run by Saeed.

In fact, Saeed and his charities were top on the list of the groups that the FATF wanted Pakistan to act against.

The US Department of the Treasury has designated Saeed as a global terrorist.

Saeed, who is accused of having masterminded the November 2008 Mumbai attack, was also placed on the terrorism blacklist by the United Nations in December 2008.

The banned JuD head was released from the house arrest in November last year after the Pakistan government decided against detaining him further in any other case. He was under house arrest since January last year.