Pak Shuts JeM Seminaries, Hafiz Saeed Slams Nawaz Govt Crackdown

Pakistan shuts down Jaish-e-Mohammad-run madrassas, crackdown on JeM even as Hafiz Saeed rebukes Sharif-government.

File photo of Maulana Masood Azhar, Chief of Jaish-e-Mohammad. (Photo: Reuters)

As a part of the probe into the air force base attack in Pathankot, the Pakistani authorities have closed suspected terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad’s seminaries in Sialkot town near the India-Pakistan border on Thursday.

Pakistan’s Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah confirmed on Friday that JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar was in protective custody of Pakistani authorities.

File photo of Pakistani cleric and Jaish-e-Mohammad Maulana Masood Azhar (left). (Photo: Reuters)

Also read: India Shares Pathankot Evidence, Names of JeM Handlers With Pak

He said so during a news discussion about the Pathankot attack on Paksitani new channel DawnNews.

Azhar will remain in protective custody for the next 30 days at least, according to a report by The Asian Age.

After India handed over actionable intelligence information about JeM’s involvement in the Pathankot attack, which killed seven Indian security personnel, several other JeM arrests were made by Pakistan.

Also read: JeM Operatives Arrested by Pak Were From South Punjab Districts

The 10-12 JeM operatives arrested by Pakistani agencies were picked up from at least four locations in south Punjab of the country.

The Pakistan government has decided to send a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to India and will be co-operating with Indian investigation agencies.

Also read: MEA: Indo-Pak Foreign Secy Talk to Be Rescheduled in Near Future

26/11 Mastermind Rebukes Sharif Government’s Move

Hafiz Saeed, a mastermind in the case of 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai in 2008, has attacked the Pakistan government for the crackdown on the JeM by a government.

JuD chief Hafiz Saeed rebukes Pakistan government’s crackdown on JeM. (Photo: Reuters)

Addressing the Friday sermon at the headquarters of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) in Lahore, Saeed said that the Pakistan government is taking action against JeM to “please” India.

<p>The arrests are regrettable as the Nawaz government is only doing so to please Modi sarkar (government). The arrests will only encourage the Indian government to put further pressure on Pakistan to back-track on its stance on Kashmir. </p>

<b>Hafiz Saeed, Chief of JuD, 26/11 Mastermind</b>

Musharraf Warns India Against “Mischief”

Former President of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, warned India against “mischief” in the backdrop of the Pathankot attack. Musharraf threatened India of consequences during an interview to SAMAA TV.

Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf. (Photo: Reuters)

<p>In case India perpetrates something wrong against Pakistan, we will give such a fitting response that will always haunt India.<br></p>

<b>Pervez Musharraf, Former President of Pakistan</b>

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on 11 January had said that any individual or organisation causing pain to India should be paid back in the same coin.

But the how, when and where “should be of our choice,” Parrikar had said.