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November 24th, 2017 
Awake Goy 
nsnbc : Pakistani authorities have ordered the release of Hafiz Saeed, the chief of the global Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and the alleged mastermind behind the deadly 2008 attack in India’s financial capital Mumbai.
Hafiz Saeed, JuD chief and Islamist cleric, was placed under house arrest for 90 days in Lahore, the capital of Pakistan’s populous Punjab province. On Wednesday a Pakistani court ordered authorities to release Saeed, whose detention had been extended by provincial authorities several times. Saeed’s attorney had argued before the court that his detention is unlawful and there is no proof of his involvement in terrorist activities.
During the court meeting on Wednesday the Punjab provincial government asked for another 60-day extension. However, judges turned down the request and ordered that Saeed be freed from his house arrest. The court ruled the government could not produce sufficient evidence to justify his detention. Saeed’s counsel has said that the religious leader is likely to be released later this week.
Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) is by many countries, including the United States, designated as a terrorist organization. U.S. intelligence services stress that JuD is functioning as a front for the outlawed Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) group. The United States has also accused Saeed of plotting the November 2008 attacks in Mumbai in which LeT terrorists killed 166 people and wounded hundreds.
Nine of the attackers were killed by police while lone survivor Ajmal Kasab was caught. Kasab was executed after a court found him guilty and handed down death sentence. Before his execution, Kasab made a detailed confession, detailing how the Mumbai attack was micro-managed from Pakistan even as it was in progress. Pakistani journalists were harassed for pursuing the scandal. The release of Hafiz Saeed is widely perceived as yet another scandal that showcases Pakistan’s unwillingness or lack of capacity to combat terrorism including, and especially, the top-leadership of terrorist networks that have linke to Pakistan’s ISI and military.
The United States had offered a $10 million reward for information leading to Saeed’s arrest and conviction. His release is bound to further stress bilateral relations. Despite U.S. sanctions on Saeed, the cleric has been living freely in Pakistan and delivering flaming anti-U.S. speeches. Saeed’s actions have also been a major irritant in relations with neighboring India. The Indian government has linked resumption of normal ties with Islamabad to putting Saeed on trial for planning the Mumbai bloodshed.
Pakistani officials, for their part, claim India has not shared evidence to substantiate the charges. Controversially, reports now state that Saeed’s release may also coincide with the anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks in which at least 166 people were killed. Indian government sources said on Wednesday that Saeed’s release order shows how Pakistan is “hoodwinking” the international community on the issue of terrorism.
CH/L – nsnbc 24.11.2017
Source Article from https://nsnbc.me/2017/11/24/pakistani-court-orders-release-of-jamaat-ud-dawa-chief-and-alleged-mumbai-attack-mastermind-hafiz-saeed/
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