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Pakistan court orders release of Islamist blamed for Mumbai attacks

By Mubasher Bukhari

 

Hafiz Saeed (C) reacts to supporters as he walks out of court after a Pakistani court ordered his release from house arrest in Lahore, Pakistan November 22, 2017. REUTERS/Mohsin Raza

 

LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters) - A Pakistani court on Wednesday ordered the release from house arrest of an Islamist leader accused by the United States and India of masterminding attacks on Mumbai in 2008 in which 166 people were killed, a prosecutor said.

 

Hafiz Saeed was put under house arrest in January after years of living freely inPakistan, one of the sore points in its fraying relationship with the United States. His freedom had also infuriated its arch-foe India.

 

Saeed, who is expected to be freed on Thursday, thanked the court judges in a video message released by his Islamist charity. "Thanks to God, this is a victory of Pakistan's independence," he said.

 

The government of Pakistan's Punjab province had asked for a 60-day extension to Saeed's detention but the request was turned down by the court, prosecutor Sattar Sahil told Reuters.

 

"His previous detention for 30 days is over, which means he would be released tomorrow," said Sahil.

 

Saeed has repeatedly denied involvement in the Mumbai attacks in which 10 gunmen attacked targets in India's largest city, including two luxury hotels, a Jewish centre and a train station in a rampage that lasted several days.

 

The violence brought nuclear-armed neighbours Pakistan and India to the brink of war.

 

The United States had offered a $10 million (£7.51 million) bounty for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Saeed, who heads the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD).

 

Members say the Jamaat-ud-Dawa is an charity but the United States says it is a front for the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant group.

 

"The review board of the Lahore High Court asked the Punjab government to produce evidence against Hafiz Saeed for keeping him detained but the government failed," Saeed's lawyer A.K. Dogar told Reuters.

 

"The court today said that there is nothing against Saeed, therefore he should be released," he added.

 

A spokesman for India's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

 

India accused Pakistan of sponsoring the attacks through the LeT, which Saeed founded in the 1990s.

 

Pakistan has denied any state involvement in the attack. It placed the LeT on a list of banned organizations in 2002.

 

"The leader of Jamaat-ud-Dawa, Hafiz Saeed's (may God protect him) internment is over," Nadeem Awan, a media manager for JuD, wrote on Facebook after the court order.

 

(Additional reporting by Tommy Wilkes; Writing by Saad Sayeed; Editing by Nick Macfie and John Stonestreet)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-11-24

[Srikcir]

Time to put Pakistan on the travel ban and State Sponsor of Terrorism lists.

[captpkapoor]

The fount of all terrorism, training ground for the 9/11 attackers. Every terrorist attack in the West has had a Pakistan angle to it, some involvement somewhere. 

[dabhand]

I was staying at the Taj Hotel the week before the attack. Was in Mumbai on a business trip and had booked into the 'cheaper' new wing but was moved to the old wing as the England cricket team needed the rooms. KP and FF made full use of the pool in late afternoon after their practice sessions. Always wondered if the attack had been planned for them being in residence but was delayed for some reason. In any event, even during that time, security was extremely light and there were reports that arms had been stockpiled in the hotel ahead of time.

I would normally have been in the Harbour Bar around the time of the attack and I could see both the bar and the room that I had occupied going up in flames from the TV coverage. Have been back since and there is a dignified memorial in the foyer area to all who perished during that terrible event.

No surprise at these latest events in Pakistan. Not a country I would consider visiting under any circumstances.

 

[observer90210]

No specialist of that area, but well since late 1960, India has been warning the world [and has been ignored] against the terrorist acts and intentions of the Pakistanis.

 

It time the Donald takes up matters on some concrete sanctions.

Edited November 24, 2017 by observer90210

[JemJem]

3 hours ago, observer90210 said:

No specialist of that area, but well since late 1960, India has been warning the world [and has been ignored] against the terrorist acts and intentions of the Pakistanis.

 

It time the Donald takes up matters on some concrete sanctions.

I agree, but as far as I know, Trump hasn't said anything negative about Pakistan so far, for some reason.

[Srikcir]

4 hours ago, JemJem said:

I agree, but as far as I know, Trump hasn't said anything negative about Pakistan so far, for some reason.

Trump's behavior towards Pakistan is evolving (translation: US military is educating him?):

 

Dec. 2016: "Trump Gushes About Pakistan In Call With Its Prime Minister"

• "....Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif you have a very good reputation. You are a terrific guy. .... Pakistanis are one of the most intelligent people." https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2016/12/01/504010662/trump-gushes-about-pakistan-in-call-with-its-prime-minister

Oct. 2017: "Trump sends lieutenants to Pakistan with tough message"

• 'Weeks after Mr. Trump angrily accused Islamabad of providing safe haven to "agents of chaos," Secretary of State Rex Tillerson plans to depart for Pakistan late this month. He will be followed by Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis .... Pakistani state support for jihadist groups has to end'  http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/trump-sends-lieutenants-to-pakistan-with-tough-message/article19817595.ece

Maybe Trump (at Kelly's urging) is waiting for advice from Mattis and Tillerson before reacting publicly (if only). I favor a threat to place Pakistan on the State Sponsored Terrorism list.