Hafiz Saeed: India's enemy number 1

Hafiz Saeed is the man who always manages to get by the short arm of Pakistani law. He is the leader and ideologue behind the Jamaat-Ud-Dawa.

On the face of it the Jamaat is a charity running madrasas and hospitals but its function as a front for the Lashar-e-Taiba is an open secret.

Six months ago, even the United Nations came around to India's point of view that Hafez Saeed is a terrorist and he and his organization should be banned.

The Pakistan government arrested him but couldn't muster up the courage to do so on terror charges.

But Pakistan's promises not withstanding, under Hafez Saeed's leadership, the Lashkar and the Jamaat have both flourished at the headquarters in Muridke, 40 kilometers outside Lahore.

India has blamed the Lashkar for the 26/11 attacks and the attack on Parliament in December 2001 demanding Pakistan take action against Saeed for his personal role in masterminding the strikes.

But Saeed's spiritual leadership has always ensured, he has a dedicated following inside Pakistan.

And if Tuesday's release is anything to go by, Hafez Saeed will continue to be the proverbial cat with nine lives, even in the face of condemnation from India and a weak appeal by the Pakistan government.