Hafiz Saaed was charged for committing multiple offences of terrorism financing and money laundering
Highlights
- Lashkar-e Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed is 2008 Mumbai terror attack mastermind
- Today, Pakistan police says he will be arrested "very soon"
- But Centre has said Pakistan is "not doing enough to control terrorists"
Pakistan's filing of terror charges against Lashkar-e Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed and the assurance of his arrest is a "cosmetic step" and Islamabad is not doing enough to control terrorists acting from the country, the Centre said today. Hafiz Saeed, the chief of Lashkar-e Taiba and the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, has been getting a free run in Pakistan even after India provided Pakistan with the evidence.
Yesterday, following sustained international pressure, they were charged with multiple offences of terror financing and money laundering in a First Information Report filed by the Counter Terrorism Department of Pakistan's Punjab Police.
"Pakistan's sincerity to take action against terror groups will be on the basis of demonstrating verifiable action, not on the basis of half-hearted steps to hoodwink international community," the foreign ministry said.
In 2017, Hafiz Saeed and his four aides were detained by the Pakistan government under terror laws. But they were released after nearly 11 months when the Judicial Review Board of Punjab refused to extend their confinement further.
Today, Pakistan police gave assurances that the terror mastermind and aides will be arrested "very soon". Asked why the men have not yet been arrested, Punjab police spokesperson Niyab Haider Naqvi said the filing of a First Information Report is a first step.
"Saeed and others nominated in the FIRs will be arrested subsequently," he added.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said Pakistan claims to take action. "But when it comes to people we want action against, you (Pakistan) go in denial mode. You try to project to international community. This is case of double standard," he added.
In June last year, the Financial Action Task Force - a Paris-based global body working to curb terrorism - had placed Pakistan on a list of nations whose laws are considered too weak to tackle the challenges of money laundering and terrorism financing. In October, it had asked the country to complete its action plan against terror funding or face action.