Islamabad:
Pakistan has placed banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed under house arrest. The move comes just 48 hours before the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan are to scheduled meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
According to the Pakistan media, a police party has been deputed outside Saeed's residence, restricting his movement.
At about one o'clock in the night, a police party surrounded Saeed's residence in Lahore's Johar town. Police say Saeed's movement has been restricted owing to the security reasons.
But sources indicate that Saeed was going to lead an Eid congregation at Ghaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The exact duration of the restrictions are not yet known.
Last Friday two cases were filed against Saeed in Faisalabad for delivering anti-state speeches and collection of charity for jihaad. This action comes close on the heels of the US general assembly meet this week.
India has accused Pakistan of blocking the inquiry into the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and protecting Saeed. Only a week ago Home Minister P Chidambaram had met Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the US, armed with evidence of Saeed's role in the Mumbai attacks.
In December 2008, Pakistani authorities banned the Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Saeed was put under house arrest, but in June this year a Pakistani court released him.
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