Pakistan's counter-terrorism department declares Hafiz Saeed guilty of 'terror financing'

Mumbai terror attack mastermind and Jammat-ud Dawah chief Hafiz Saeed was declared guilty of terror financing by Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in a Pakistani court on Wednesday.

Hafiz Saeed, a UN designated terrorist whom US has placed a USD 10 million bounty on, was presented before Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Gujranwala, some 80-km from Lahore, in high security where he was charge-sheeted of terror financing by CTD of Punjab police.

A CTD official told PTI that it submitted challan in ATC declaring Saeed guilty of terror financing.

"Since case is related to Mandi Bhauddin district of Punjab refore prosecution requested court to shift it to Gujrat ATC court (some 200-km from Lahore)," he said.

On prosecution's request, ATC Gujranwala shifted case to Gujrat ATC. He said next hearing of case (which is yet to be fixed) will be held in Gujrat ATC.

Founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba, Saeed was travelling to Gujranwala from Lahore to get pre-arrest bail in terror financing cases registered against him re when he was arrested on July 17. Saeed is being kept at Kot Lakhpat jail Lahore in high security.

US Department of Treasury has designated Saeed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, and US, since 2012, has offered a USD 10 million reward for information that brings Saeed to justice.

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Saeed-led JuD is believed to be front organisation for LeT which is responsible for carrying out 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people. He was listed under UN Security Council Resolution 1267 in December 2008.

CTD on July 3 registered 23 FIRs against 13 JuD leaders including Saeed on charges of terror financing in different cities of Punjab province.

Since Imran Khan government has taken control of JuD and its charity wing Falah-i-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) properties including seminaries and mosques across country following immense international pressure built up after Pulwama attack, Saeed was keeping a low profile at his Lahore's Jauhar Town residence. He was even barred from entering JuD headquarters in Lahore and Muridke.

Pakistani government had also arrested JuD's second-in-command Abdul Rehman Makki, who is bror-in-law of Saeed, on charges of making a public speech and terror financing charges.

CTD said it booked Saeed and his 12 aides for 'terror financing' in 23 cases after "irrefutable evidence against m was detected.

cases have been registered in Lahore, Gujranwala & Multan for collection of funds for terrorism financing through assets/properties made and held in names of Trusts/ n Profit Organisations (NPO) including Al-Anfaal Trust, Dawatul Irshad Trust, Muaz Bin Jabal Trust, etc.

CTD said investigation launched into financing matters of proscribed organisations, JuD and LeT  in connection with implementation of UN Sanctions against se Designated Entities & Persons as directed by NSC (National Security Committee) in its Meeting of January 1, 2019 chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan for implementing National Action Plan.

"se suspects made assets from funds of terrorism financing. y held & used se assets to raise more funds for furr terrorism financing. Hence, y committed multiple offences of terrorism financing & money laundering under Anti Terrorism Act 1997. y will be prosecuted in ATCs (Anti Terrorism Courts) for commission of se offences," CTD said.

Makki, MaliK Zafar Iqbal, Ameer Hamza, Muhammad Yahya Aziz, Muhammad Naeem Sh, Mohsin Bilal, Abdul Raqeeb, Ahmad Daud, Muhammad Ayub, Abdullah Ubaid, Muhammad Ali and Abdul Ghaffar are or suspects.

or suspects reported to have been hiding since government took over over properties of se organisations.

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