Lahore: For the first time in years, Mumbai attack mastermind and Jammat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed was not allowed by the Pakistan government Wednesday to lead Eid-ul-Fitr prayers at his favourite venue, the Qaddafi Stadium here, an official said.
Instead, Saeed, chief of UN-designated terrorist organisation JuD, offered prayers at a local mosque adjacent to his Jauhar Town residence here.
“JuD chief Saeed wanted to lead the Eid prayers at the Qaddafi Stadium but he was conveyed by an official of the Punjab government a day before (Tuesday) that he could not do so. In case he goes ahead with his plan (to lead the Eid prayers) the government may arrest him,” the official privy to the development told this agency.
He said Saeed having no other option ‘followed the government direction’ and dropped the idea of leading the prayers at the Qaddafi Stadium.
Saeed had been leading the prayers on both Eid-ul Fitr and Eid-ul Azha at the Qaddafi Stadium for more than a decade without any hindrance. Rather the government used to provide him foolproof security.
In the past Saeed not only led the prayers but also propagated his views especially on Kashmir before a large gathering of people assembled on such religious festivals.
Saeed, who was banned on December 10, 2008 by the UN Security Council after the horrific Mumbai attacks in which 166 people were killed, is keeping a low profile since the Imran Khan government launched a crackdown on proscribed organisations some three months ago to fulfil its obligations regarding international terror financing watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
In March, Saeed was barred by the government from delivering weekly Friday sermon at Jamia Masjid Qadsia, the JuD headquarters here.
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 him to justice.
PTI