Sharif committed treason, ignored Kashmir cause': Hafiz Saeed

Islamabad/New Delhi/Washington: Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief and Lashkar-e-Tayyaba founder Hafiz Saeed, mastermind of the 26/11 attack on Mumbai nine years ago, who was freed from house arrest late on Thursday night, on Friday attacked Pakistan’s ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as a “traitor” for advocating peace with India. 

He said Mr Sharif had committed “treason” by seeking friendship with India and ignoring the “Kashmir cause” while delivering a sermon at the JuD headquarters in Lahore, for which a large number of JuD and LeT activists had gathered at the Jamia Masjid Al-Qadsia at Chauburji. Saeed also targeted the Pakistani government for “taking dictation from foreign masters”, in a clear reference to the United States, which had put a $10 million bounty on his head.

After his release, meanwhile, the United States on Friday asked the Pakistan government to make sure that Hafiz Saeed was arrested again and charged for his crimes. “The United States is deeply concerned that LeT leader Hafiz Saeed has been released from house arrest in Pakistan. LeT is a designated foreign terrorist organisation responsible for the death of hundreds of innocent civilians in terrorist attacks, including a number of American citizens,” US state department spokesperson Heather Nauert said, adding, “The Pakistani government should make sure that he is arrested and charged for his crimes.”

In New Delhi, reacting sharply to Hafiz Saeed’s remark after being released that he would continue fighting for Kashmiris till they get “freedom”, the home ministry said this was a mere “rearticulation of the agenda of terrorists who have thrived across the border”. 

A MHA official said the security forces had given an “appropriate response” to comments by subversive elements. “Not just the forces, but even the people of Kashmir have given a suitable response to comments by terror elements operating out of Pakistan,” the official added.