Published 15:07 IST, August 27th 2019
Imran Khan and terrorist Hafiz Saeed's posters surface in Lahore
After Pakistan's sham terror crackdown, a poster in Lahore saw Pakistan PM Imran Khan and UN-designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed sharing the space together.
Imran Khan's sham crackdown on terrorists and terror activities perpetrating from right under his nose was laid bare after photos of Lashkar-e-Toiba chief Hafiz Saeed surfaced alongside the Pakistan Prime Minister in Lahore.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan could be seen sharing the space with globally designated terrorist and 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed in a life-size poster that hung on the streets of Lahore.
The poster speaks volumes in contrast to Imran Khan claiming that the Pakistan government has initiated a crackdown against Jamat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed.
Hafiz Saeed's arrest
On July 17, Pakistan's Punjab Counter-terrorism department arrested Hafiz Saeed, just days before Imran Khan's visit to Washington. The Trump administration days after Hafiz Saeed's sham arrest, raised their doubts over Pakistan's intentions.
"We've seen this happen in the past. And we have been looking for sustained and concrete steps, not just window dressing. Quite frankly, the previous arrest of Hafiz Muhammed Saeed hasn't made a difference and the LeT has been able to operate. So we're monitoring the situation. Pakistan really needs to prove that this time they are something different," a senior administration official told reporters Friday.
Pakistan's sham arrest of Hafiz Saeed
A week before Imran Khan's maiden visit to the US, Islamabad made another sham arrest of US-designated terrorist and 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed, for the 8th time.
Here's an account of the times he was arrested:
- December 2001
- May 2002
- October 2002
- August 2006 (twice)
- December 2008
- September 2009
- January 2017
Imran Khan on terror
Imran Khan on March 9 had claimed that terror groups will not be allowed to operate on Pakistan's soil and carry out terror attacks across the world.
He said, "This government will not allow Pakistan's land to be used for any kind of outside terrorism. We will not allow any terror group to function in our country now."
Pakistan blacklisted FATF
The Asia-Pacific Group of the global financial watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on August 23 blacklisted Pakistan, over its inaction against terror funding emancipating from Pakistan soil.
An already cash-strapped Pakistan will now be facing a financial downgrade and restrictions on its markets. It will also have a tough time managing capital inflows from IMF (International Monetary Fund) and other agencies, as well as servicing its debt that adds up to about 25% of the government’s revenues at present. Imran Kahn-led Pakistan was earlier placed in grey-list by the FATF after mounting pressure from the US, France, Germany, UK over its lack of action against terror-funding.
Updated 15:32 IST, August 27th 2019