Hafiz Saeed Not Allowed by Pak Govt to Lead Eid Prayers in Lahore

For the last many years, Saeed had not only been leading the prayers at Qaddafi Stadium, but doing so with security

Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed.

(Photo: Reuters)

Mumbai attack mastermind and Jammat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed was not allowed by the Pakistan government to lead Eid-ul-Fitr prayers at his favourite venue, Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore, on Wednesday, 5 June, PTI reported.

Saeed had to instead offer prayers at a local mosque close to his residence. This marks the first time in years that Saeed did not lead the prayers at the stadium.

“JuD chief Saeed wanted to lead the Eid prayers at the Qaddafi Stadium, but he was conveyed by an official of the Punjab government a day before (Tuesday) that he could not do so. In case he goes ahead with his plan (to lead the Eid prayers), the government may arrest him, the official privy to the development told PTI.

For the last many years, Saeed was reportedly leading the prayers, with government security, on Eid-ul Fitr and Eid-ul Azha at the Qaddafi Stadium. In the past, Saeed not only led the prayers but also propagated his views, especially on Kashmir, before a large gathering of people assembled on such religious festivals, reported PTI.

Saeed has been maintaining a low profile since the Imran Khan government’s crackdown on proscribed organisations in the last three months, to fulfil obligations regarding the financing of international terror financing watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF), reported PTI.

Saeed was banned on 10 December 2008 by the UN Security Council after the horrific Mumbai attacks, in which 166 people were killed.

In February, Paris-based international terror financing watchdog FATF decided to continue the 'Grey' listing of Pakistan for its failure to stop funding of terrorist groups such as the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the JuD.

In March, Saeed was barred by the government from delivering weekly Friday sermon at Jamia Masjid Qadsia, the JuD headquarters in Lahore.

The JuD is believed to be the front organisation for the LeT which is responsible for carrying out the Mumbai attacks. It had been declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the US in June 2014.

The US Department of the Treasury has designated Saeed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, and the US, since 2012, has offered a USD 10 million reward for information that brings him to justice.

(With inputs from PTI)