‘Saeed’s arrest drama has been on since 2001’

NEW DELHI: After Mumbai attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed was arrested again by Pakistani authorities, India on Thursday expressed hope that he would genuinely be brought to justice this time unlike the “drama” witnessed on earlier occasions in the name of action against him.
The government recalled this wasn’t the first time that Saeed had been arrested or detained. “This drama has taken place at least eight times since 2001. The question is whether this time it will be more than a cosmetic exercise and whether Saeed will be tried and sentenced for his terrorist activities,’’ MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.
He reiterated India’s position that Saeed was a designated terrorist, the mastermind of Mumbai terror attacks and listed by the United Nations Sanctions Committee under the UN Security Council Resolution 1267. “Effective action mandated internationally against Hafiz Saeed and his terrorist organisations is an obligation on part of all UN member states, including Pakistan. He also carries a reward of $10 million under US law,’’ Kumar said.
India has long maintained that the UNSC 1267 provisions pertaining to listing and proscription of known terrorist entities and individuals must be “effectively and sincerely’’ enforced by all member states. Kumar said Saeed and his front organisations Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jamaat-ud-Dawa recruited and trained hundreds and thousands of people and motivated and indoctrinated them “on a violent agenda against India’’.
“The FATF (Financial Action Task Force) has drawn attention to the clear evidence that organisations supported by Saeed continue to be involved in supporting and financing terrorist activities,” he said.