Hafiz Saeed, 26/11 Mumbai attack mastermind, is to be freed from house arrest in Pakistan (Reuters)
Lahore:
26/11 Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed is to be released from house arrest in Pakistan, a court has ruled, a move that will further inflame tension with India. Saeed was put under house arrest in January after years of living freely in Pakistan, one of the huge stress points between Pakistan and India. He is to be freed today, according to news agency Reuters.
Saeed heads the Jamat ud Dawa, or JuD, which poses as a charity but is a front for the terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
Saeed has always denied involvement in the Mumbai attacks of 2008 that left 166 people dead after landmarks in the financial capital were attacked by 10 terrorists who sailed into the city from Karachi.
The court that ordered his release rejected the Pakistani government's request to extend his house arrest by three months. His current term was to expire next week.
The United States has for years offered $10 million for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Saeed.
When his detention was ordered in January, the move was seen as the result of an India-led diplomatic campaign to isolate Pakistan over its failure to act against terror groups.
Saeed was put under house arrest after the Mumbai attack but was released about six months later in June 2009.
Saeed heads the Jamat ud Dawa, or JuD, which poses as a charity but is a front for the terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
Saeed has always denied involvement in the Mumbai attacks of 2008 that left 166 people dead after landmarks in the financial capital were attacked by 10 terrorists who sailed into the city from Karachi.
The court that ordered his release rejected the Pakistani government's request to extend his house arrest by three months. His current term was to expire next week.
Commandos of the National Security Guards (NSG) had fought the terrorists in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks
When his detention was ordered in January, the move was seen as the result of an India-led diplomatic campaign to isolate Pakistan over its failure to act against terror groups.
Saeed was put under house arrest after the Mumbai attack but was released about six months later in June 2009.
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