Pakistan Reinstates Ban on Hafiz Saeed-Led JuD and FIF

The decision was reportedly taken during a meeting of the NSC chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

File image of Hafiz Saeed, head of the Pakistani religious party Jamaat-ud-Dawa.

(Photo: AP Exchange)

Pakistan on Thursday, 21 February, banned 2008 Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed-led Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and its charity wing Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation, amid intense global pressure to rein in the militant groups following the Pulwama terror attack that killed 40 CRPF soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir.

The decision was reportedly taken during a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

“It was decided during the meeting to accelerate action against proscribed organisations,” the Interior Ministry spokesperson said in a statement.

“It was further decided that Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation be notified as proscribed organisations by the Ministry of Interior,” he added.

In February 2018, the former president of Pakistan promulgated an ordinance amending the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997. The move resulted in declaring, JuD and FIF as proscribed groups.

However, the two outfits were no longer a part of the list after the presidential ordinance lapsed.

(With inputs from PTI)