Pakistan court to pronounce verdict against JuD chief Hafiz Saeed on Feb 8

A Pakistani anti-terrorism court has reserved its verdict against Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed on February 6 after a six-hour-long hearing in two terror financing cases. anti-terrorism court will prounce its judgement on February 8 in presence of Mumbai terror attack mastermind amidst increasing international pressure to rein in on terror groups.

Hafiz Saeed was produced before court amid tight security on Thursday and around 20 witnesses testified against JuD chief and his close aides for ir involvement in terror financing. "As defence had already completed its arguments on January 30, prosecution presented more arguments and evidence before court on Thursday," said a court official.

Saeed was charged for terror financing and money laundering under Pakistan's Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997, after Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) registered 23 FIRs against Saeed and his accomplices.  He was presented in an anti-terrorism court in Lahore on December 20 where he had pleaded ‘t guilty’. Saeed was indicted again in ar case by an anti-terrorism court after a case was filed by Punjab's CTD in Gujranwala district for terror-financing.

Read: Pak Court Adjourns Hearing In Hafiz Saeed's Terror Financing Case Till January 27

Pressure from FATF

Jamat-ud-Dawa is believed to be main organisation behind Mumbai terror attack of 2008 which killed 166 people including six Americans. JuD chief was moving freely in Pakistan for a long time but sanctions by global terror financing watchdog, Financial Action Task Force (FATF) forced country to arrest him and expedite case. 

Read: Lahore Court Adjourns Hearing In Terror Financing Case Against Hafiz Saeed

Pakistan government has been desperate to expedite case ever since FATF put country on grey list. FATF has warned Pakistan of blacklisting m if country fails to comply with targets set by taskforce. Pakistan has been facing difficulties in accessing financial assistance after it was placed on ‘Grey List’ by FATF. problem for Pakistan was compounded by listing of Saeed as ‘Specially Designated Global Terrorist’ by US Department of Treasury.

Read: Pak Anti-terrorism Court Holds Marathon Hearing On Hafiz Saeed; Adjourns Proceedings

Read: 26/11 Mastermind Hafiz Saeed Pleads t Guilty In Terror Financing Cases: Court Officials

(With PTI inputs)