Superstorm Sandy: US rejects Hafiz Saeed's offer of aid

Lahore: The US, which is battling the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, has rejected an offer of help from Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, the man believed to be the mastermind behind the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

"We respect the Islamic tradition of help to the needy, but we can't take Hafiz Saeed's offer seriously...Saaed is wanted for suspected involvement in the Mumbai attacks, which killed 166. JuD is a UN&US-designated terrorist org," The US Embassy in Islamabad tweeted today.

Saeed, who heads the Jaamat-ud-Dawa or JuD, believed to be a front for the deadly terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), carries a USD 10 million bounty for information leading to his arrest. He is one of India's most wanted men but roams free in Pakistan. He had said yesterday that his organisation was ready to help Americans affected by the Superstorm Sandy, which has left 45 people dead and more than eight million homeless.

"We are ready to send food items, medicines and doctors to the US for the people affected by the storm," Saeed had said, adding that though the US had put a bounty on his head, it was the duty of Muslims to help fellow human beings, irrespective of their faith, during a natural catastrophe. "It is our Islamic duty and the government of Pakistan should allow us to provide relief goods to the affected people in the US," Saeed said.

Pakistan has so far refused to take action against Saeed on the basis of material provided by India about his alleged role in masterminding the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The US too has said that the assault on Mumbai was carried out by LeT operatives who were trained, financed and controlled by Pakistan-based elements.

Advertisement

Saeed was placed under house arrest for less than six months after the Mumbai attacks, largely due to pressure from the world community.

He was freed in 2009 on the orders of the Lahore High Court.

Advertisement

Though the LeT was banned by the regime of former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, the Pakistan government has not formally outlawed the JuD.

The organisation now carries out its activities through the Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation, which was created in the wake of the Mumbai attacks

Advertisement

(With inputs from PTI)