Pak anti-terrorism court holds marathon hearing on Hafiz Saeed; adjourns proceedings

Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed's lawyers on Wednesday presented ir arguments for six hours before a Pakistani Anti-Terrorism Court to defend him in a terror financing case. lawyers said Saeed had connection with terror financing charges and piece of land acquired in name of trust (by Saeed and ors) was used for setting up seminaries and mosques.

"Hafiz Saeed's lawyers Naseeruddin Nayyar and Imran Fazal Gull presented ir arguments for more than six hours in anti-terrorism court Lahore regarding terror financing charges against Saeed and his three close associates Prof Zafar Iqbal, Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad and Muhammad Ashraf," a court official told PTI on Wednesday.

Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) adjourned hearing for Thursday. On Tuesday, Saeed recorded his statement before ATC in two terror financing cases against him in which he pleaded "t guilty".

"In response to a questionnaire handed over to him by Anti-Terrorism Court Lahore regarding terror financing charges against him, Saeed on Tuesday submitted his reply in which he dismissed all charges against him. He pleaded t guilty," court official said.

cases of terror financing have been registered against him in Lahore and Gujranwala cities on application of Counter Terrorism Department of Punjab police. Saeed was produced before ATC in high security. Journalists were t allowed to enter court premises for cover of proceedings. Earlier Saeed's counsel requested court for adjournment of hearing against his client in terror financing case, saying Saeed needed more time to record his statement.

Cross examination of prosecution witnesses against founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba and his three close aides by defence counsel has already been concluded. prosecution had produced a good number of witnesses against Saeed. ATC indicted Saeed and ors in December in terror financing case. Counter Terrorism Department had registered 23 FIRs against Saeed and his accomplices on charges of terror financing in different cities of Punjab province and arrested him on July 17. He is held at Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore.

Saeed-led JuD is believed to be front organisation for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) which is responsible for carrying out 2008 Mumbai attack that killed 166 people, including six Americans. Saeed's indictment followed growing international pressure on Pakistan to stop militant groups from collecting funds in country and to take immediate action against those still involved in militant activities. international terror financing watchdog FATF has decided to keep Pakistan on its 'Grey' list for failure to curb funnelling of funds to terror groups LeT, JeM and ors.

Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which kept Pakistan on Grey List for an extended period till February 2020, had warned in October that Islamabad would be put on Black List if it did t comply with remaining 22 points in a list of 27 questions. Saeed, a UN and US designated terrorist, has USD 10 million American bounty on his head. PTI MZ CPS