Pak.court frees Hafiz Saeed(TH)

Pak.court frees Hafiz Saeed(TH)

Context

Saeed, a declared terrorist by the U.N., the U.S. and India for his involvement in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, had been under house arrest since January 2017

What has happened?

A Pakistani court has ordered the release of Hafiz Saeed, the chief of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and one of the alleged masterminds of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that killed more than 160 people

Pak government’s stand

Government had requested to extend the detention citing that Saeed’s release may trigger international sanctions against Pakistan

High Court’s stand

Concept of justice cannot be brutalised and terrorised in the name of fight against terrorism

Background

Saeed, who carries a bounty of $10 million announced by the U.S. for his role in terror activities, has been under house arrest since January 2017

• Extension of detention: Saeed’s detention was extended four times since January when the government cracked down on the JuD and its charity arm Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation