Pakistan police register FIRs against Hafiz Saeed

Under mounting international pressure, Pakistani police has registered two cases against JuD chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, the mastermind of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, and one against his close aide Abu Jandal under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Three FIRs two against Saeed and one against Abu Jandal were registered at police stations in Faisalabad, some 100 km from here, for inciting people to wage "jehad" (holy war) against "infidels", a senior police officer told PTI late last night.

The officer, who did not wish to be identified, said Saeed had attended Iftar-dinners and held a meeting with activists of his banned Jamaat-ud-Dawah organisation on August 27 and 28 during which he asked the people to wage a jehad.

"Saeed had also sought donations from the gatherings for jehad," a source in a law enforcement agency told PTI. The police action against Saeed comes days ahead of a proposed meeting between the Foreign Ministers and Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York.

Saeed, the founder of banned Lashker-e-Taiba, has been blamed by India for masterminding the Mumbai terror attacks last year which claimed 183 innocent lives.

Addressing the gatherings, Saeed reportedly highlighted the importance of jehad and incited his followers to wage war on infidels. Sources said the first congregation addressed by Saeed in Faisalabad was held at a hotel on Canal Road and was attended by a large number of people.

The second was held at the residence of a JuD activist on Jaranwala Road, they said. "Abu Jandal held a separate meeting and preached jehad," a source said.

Following these meetings, officials of the Special Branch of Punjab Police filed applications for registering cases against Saeed. Police were given a "green signal" from authorities for registering cases against Saeed and Jandal under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The officer said the FIRs had been registered under provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act in the police stations at People's Colony, Madina Town and Sadar in Faisalabad. "We have not conducted any raids as we are waiting for a go-ahead from the high-ups," the officer said.

He added that Saeed's detention or arrest could not be ruled out. Saeed was placed under house arrest in December last year after the UN Security Council declared the JuD a terrorist organisation. He was freed on the orders of the Lahore High Court in June this year.

India has been insisting that Pakistan must take action against Saeed for his role in the Mumbai attacks but Islamabad has said the evidence provided by New Delhi against him is not adequate for arresting or prosecuting the JuD chief.