Pakistan Court allows Hafiz Saeed's case to be shifted to Lahore

Pakistan's Lahore High Court allowed a plea by 26/11 mastermind, Hafiz Saeed's terror finance case to move from a Gujranwala anti-terrorism court to one here in Pakistan's Punjab province, citing security reasons, according to a media report. 

The UN-designated terrorist, Hafiz Saeed was arrested in connection with the terrorism financing case on July 17 while he was traveling within Pakistan, from Lahore to Guhranwala. Republic Media Network had accessed the first visuals of Mumbai terror attack mastermind, Hafiz Saeed, after his arrest by Pakistan's Punjab Counter-Terrorism Department in Lahore.

Prior to his arrest, the top 13 leaders of the Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD), including Saeed and Naib Emir Abdul Rehman Makki, were booked in nearly two dozen cases for terror financing and money laundering under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

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Lahore High Court Chief Justice Sardar Shamim Ahmed heard a petition filed by Hafiz Saeed on Monday in which he said that he was being kept in a jail in Lahore but was transported to Gujranwala city for each appearance before the court. He said that in light of the security situation, appearing before the Gujranwala court was not fitting and added that if he was being held in a jail in Lahore, the case should also be shifted there, the Dawn newspaper reported.

During the proceedings, a lawyer for the Pakistan government said that they had no objection to shifting the case, the report said. The Counter Terrorism Department of Punjab Police has registered 23 FIRs against the JuD members on the charges of "terror financing" in different cities of the province.

The cases have been registered in Lahore, Gujranwala and Multan for collection of funds for terrorism financing through assets and properties made and held in the names of Trusts or Non Profit Organisations, including Al-Anfaal Trust, Dawatul Irshad Trust and Muaz Bin Jabal Trust etc.

On September 25, Lahore High Court chief justice had changed a two-member bench which was hearing the petition of  Saeed challenging his arrest in the terror financing case.

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Pakistan's plea to UNSC for Hafiz Saeed

Pakistan reached out to the UN Security Council with a plea to allow UN-designated terrorist and 26/11 mastermind to access his bank account to cover 'basic living expenses.'  Putting forward a request for the terrorist and Pakistan citizen, the country in an appeal wrote to the UN saying that Hafiz Saeed needs funds to cover the basic expenses for his 'family of four,' as a 'sole supporter' and its responsible for food, drink and clothes expenses for his family members. Pakistan requested to give an allowance of 1,50,000 Pakistan rupees to the terrorist per month.

The plea was accepted by the UN Security Council. Hafiz Saeed was listed under the UN Security Council Resolution 1267 in December 2008. The US Department of the Treasury has designated Saeed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, and the US, since 2012, has offered a USD 10 million reward for information that brings Saeed to justice.

(With PTI inputs)