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Hafiz Saeed arrested by Punjab CTD, sent on judicial remand in terrorism financing case
Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed was on Wednesday arrested in connection with a terrorism financing case while on his way from Lahore to Gujranwala, officials of the Punjab Counter-Terrorism Department confirmed.
According to a spokesperson for CTD Punjab, Saeed was sent to prison on judicial remand after the counter-terrorism department presented him before a Gujranwala anti-terrorism court (ATC).
The CTD has been directed to complete its investigation and submit a charge sheet to the court in the stipulated time.
Earlier, according to CTD sources, Saeed was arrested by CTD Punjab in the Gujranwala jurisdiction while he was on his way to an ATC in Gujranwala to seek bail.
A JuD spokesperson also confirmed the arrest to Reuters.
On July 3, the top 13 leaders of the banned JuD, including Saeed and Naib Emir Abdul Rehman Makki, were booked in nearly two dozen cases for terror financing and money laundering under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.
The CTD, which registered the cases in five cities of Punjab, declared that the JuD was financing terrorism from the massive funds collected through non-profit organisations and trusts, including Al-Anfaal Trust, Dawatul Irshad Trust, Muaz Bin Jabal Trust, etc.
These non-profit organisations were banned in April as the CTD during detailed investigations found that they had links with the JuD and its top leadership, accused of financing terrorism by building huge assets/properties from the collected funds in Pakistan.
On Monday, a Lahore High Court division bench sought replies from the Ministry of Interior, Punjab home department and CTD on a petition filed by JuD chief Saeed and his seven aides challenging an FIR carrying a charge of terror financing.
Advocate A.K. Dogar represented the petitioners and contended that the facts narrated in the impugned FIR registered on July 1, 2019 illegally described them as members of LeT and levelled unlawful allegations of terror financing.
The counsel referred to a 2009 judgement by an LHC full bench against the then detention of Hafiz Saeed and stated that the petitioners were not members of LeT.
He said the LHC through another judgement issued in 2003 had also held that Hafiz Saeed left the leadership of LeT on Dec 24, 2001 while the organisation was banned on Jan 14, 2002.
The lawyer pleaded that the claim of the government that the petitioners were members of LeT stood disapproved in light of the two judgements.
Therefore, he asked the court to quash the impugned FIR lodged by the CTD for being unlawful and of no legal effect.
A government law officer opposed the petition and stated that it was not maintainable at this stage of the case.
However, the bench comprising Justice Shehram Sarwar Chaudhry and Justice Waheed Khan directed the law officer to furnish written replies on behalf of the respondents by July 30.
The other petitioners are Mohammad Ayub Sheikh, Zafar Iqbal, Syed Luqman Ali Shah, Hafiz Abdul Rehman Makki, Abdul Salam, Abdul Ghaffar and Abdul Qudoos Shahid.
Also on Monday, an ATC in Lahore had granted pre-arrest bail to the JuD chief and three others in a case pertaining to the outfit's alleged illegal use of land for its seminary, against surety bonds of Rs50,000 each.
In February, Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) had warned Pakistan to deliver on its commitments to curb terror financing and money laundering.
Risks to the global financial system have virtually put the country’s entire machinery into an aggressive mode to show tangible progress within two months of the warning.
While the meetings were taking place, the government had announced a ban on JuD and Falah-e-Insanyat Foundation to partially address the concerns raised by India that Pakistan supported these and six similar organisations, including Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) or at least considered them low-risk entities.
Comments (97) Closed
Just a drama. He will be freed tomorrow or within few days. We all know the reality.
Good riddance?
If it is again an eye wash, the troubles will increase. Please act with will.
This infinite cycle of Arrest, Bail, Release, Re-arrest, release, house-arrest....continues. World is watching with bemusement that this soap-opera.
Keep it up Imran Sahab, Indo-Pak relation will only improve then. Hope he is not going to be released again.
How many times Hafiz Sayed has been arrested and released since 2008. Because of Imran Khan is going to the USA hence to please Donald trump Sayed was arrested then will be released.
Just some drama for Trump's benefit.
Finally an appreciable move by Pak Government
Did they arrest him for his safety?
Put him in jail for life ASAP, then only Pakistan can avoid FATF Blacklist.Please do it for the economy of Pakistan and poor people of Pakistan.
And the Drama begins again.
After years of telling India that there was not enough evidence against him, I am curious, where did this convincing tranche evidence come from.
Hafiz Saeed is a true patriot. He must be freed.
we always had stand that he is a very innocent citizen of Pakistan, now what ? another U Turn?
It is in the interest of Pakistan to put such leaders behind bars. This will give Pakistani image a better look. Pakistan must earn trust amongst the community of nations.
They probably got wind of an upcoming FATF thing
Such a hero and a patriot of Pakistan! He is being arrested due to FATF, IMF and US and Indian pressures.
Welcome to America... IK wants to hear this type of thing from Trump.
This charade is for Trump & FATF , it would be naive to expect either of them to take it seriously
please handover him to India, rest we will take care
So our PM and government officials preparing for the visit to US
He is one of true Pakistanis and his services are great to country and poor people of thar. CTD is involved in sahiwal killings of innocent people.
Hafiz Saeed should be arrested and jailed. He shouldnt be allowed to act as a parallel government towards kashmir cause. Even if Pakistan and India has differences on the cause, it has to be dealt with and settled at state level without any hindrance from non state actors. This applies to India as well. They need to ensure that RSS and Karsevaks are not allowed to act as non state actors on Indian Government's back. Both countries need to finally come to senses and solve this matter.
Even Indian TV serials donot last longer then this (Hafiz arrest, bail, pre bail, house arrest, no evidence, acquitted, arrest again....etc.) series. If Pakistan is serious and to save from the mockery of world, they have to put and end to this serial.
Drama continues. He will be freed when IK is back from US.
Just a face-saving effort in front of trump. And an action for display for FATF.
Latest news : FATF members were admitted to hospital due to immense pain in their stomach from laughing non stop
Is PM's meeting with Trump around the corner?
Nothing will happens old story, he will be released soon ! FATF having close eye alongside IMF many such thing will come question lies on seriousness on the action?
Just a stunt to please Orange man.
He is most safe in police custody.
PMIK taking dictats from Modi. What a shame ! What is is crime ?
Natak before Trump meeting
FATF ?????
Which agency is right is beyond any ones guess.
Prosecuting saeed will be always on the better prospects for pakistan. Further, he should be handed over to Indian authorities.
Eyewash under pressure of FATF, once that challenge is resolved, he will be a free bird as usual. Even under arrest, he will be treated better than an elected PM.
A show put on for thre FATF
Policy is changing.
@Vishal Goel Indian, it’s only temporary to please the Americans!
@Asif Saleem, what has this ‘patriot’ done for Pakistan or world peace?
@Rehmatullah, Keep thinking of him and his tribe as heroes and patriots your isolation will continue . Forget about foreigners even Pakistanis will not invest in Pakistan .Investment goes where there is peace , rule of law and chance of making a profit .
This has now become a hide and seek game over the past few years. Every few months in and out.
Imran Khan trip USA ----> Hafiz Saeed arrested ( actually taken to VIP comforting area)
19th paragraph in the news speaks all about this arrest.
Once again he has arrested to release.It's a carrot and stick policy with world.
If Pakistan wants peace between india he should hand over this terrorist to India...then definitely the peace talk will be start automatically...
Old game of seek and hide continues.
@zeeshandxb,
RSS doesn't send it's members to other countries to kill people.
"Seek and hide" business as usual!
His every day story must end now.
again he is in but when he comes out there is no news.
FATF
This man has become a politician using religion. Sanaullah Rana who is alleged to support JuD though refuted by Rana is unlawfully n unethically languishing in jail by fascists. Hafiz Saeed had been supporting those who are now after him. This man is proved to be ungrateful.
What has he done wrong? We are doing this on Indias word?
why wasting money and time to create this drama?
The country has become a laughing stock for sincerely believing that the rest of the world is stupid. This one is for Pak PM's America visit.
PMIK is going to meet Trump.
It is not even funny how much damage such drama does to the nation's credibility internationally. Forget internationally, even in the eyes of its own people....There is not much left really...So much for a decisive leader.
Now its fooling ur own people
@Shehbaz, a sad truth. This is like a see-saw game of children.
This is all drama creating before the visit of IK to the USA to please Trump administration that Pakistan is doing more. Good Technique.
Comedy circus...once every 6 months, this cyclical fun show. Do something different, this is predictably boring
old boring drama....
Another sham for Imran to have an easy time in the US
What a joke
Pakistan should not bow to international pressure.
@Asif Saleem, @Rehmatullah, @Razzak, It is the disoriented people like you who are responsible for the current state of Pakistan. The only people worse than you folks are the powerful who created a generation like you for their own benefit.
He gets released one day by the courts and then gets arrested only to be released again. What kind of game is being played here to fool the world?
Bad news for all terror loving communals.
Now stick to your guns and don't let him go back to the society again.
Table work for probable 22 July meet
It is interesting that these organizations manage to generate so much revenue from the same society that the government is struggling so much to raise taxes to pay for infrastructure or debt repayment.
Why many times he will be arrested and released?
Good working
@zeeshandxb, perfect
I do not think anything will happen, he will come out and business will be as usual.
Nothing will happen, he will come out on bail and business will be as usual
FATF wont be fooled this time. That is why they are asking for "verifiable, irreversible steps".
If this is real, its a good step towards progress
@Shehbaz, what is the reality? Please educate us
Longest running soap opera in Pakistan, the episodes never end!
@Asif Saleem, really? What patriotic acts did he perform?
@Asif Saleem, With a ten million dollar bounty on his head?
Don't worry, you will be soon set free after Imran Khan returns from his trip to the USA. It is very common in Pakistan for people like you to do the dual jobs and move about freely, all in the name of good assets!
Who gets the $10 million bounty on his head.
Keep him behind bars.
Did Pakistan obtain actionable evidence before arresting this beautiful and peaceful man?
@Reader, do u think any body has a will to send him to jail
After a ten year search, the so-called “mastermind” of the Mumbai Terror attacks has been arrested in Pakistan,” President Trump wrote on Twitter. “Great pressure has been exerted over the last two years to find him!”
Everyone in the world knows the games the establishment plays in Pakistan with ugly proxies like these.
These child like games that Pakistani authorities indulge in fools no one including Trump although his tweet on the matter is based on misinformation.
He has been getting out by courts verdict and he is being again and again arrested to please the US . We don’t have a solid case against him and we are working on a temporary solution to satisfy our ends for the time being. To satisfy the bosses at the Task force or the Washington, DC. Can we solve the issue for once and forever !
Worst day to come ahead.how many denials.
This is just to please USA as Imran Khan is going to visit. He will be released
Have we fixed the release/bail out date yet?
@Raju, I, agree with you, neither he nor Kalbhushan should be released for better relations