Pakistan Cancels Hafiz Saeed's Arms Licences As He Moves Court Against House Arrest

Terrorist mastermind Hafiz Saeed and four of his associates who were put under house arrest in Pakistan has moved the Lahore High Court against their detention.

Reuters/ File

In their petition, Saeed, Malik Zafar Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Abid, Qazi Kashif Hussain and Abdullah Ubaid said the government in light of interior ministry's order detained them for a period of 90 days in an exercise of powers under section 11-EEE (1) of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.?

They said interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had claimed that the government was fulfilling its obligations under United Nations Security Council's resolutions.

In the petition, the terrorists even compared themselves to late Pakistani social activists Abdul Sattar Edhi.

"The government has proved that the Pakistan is a servile and a dependent nation. We have been serving the country like iconic social worker Abdul Sattar Edhi for the last many years."?

AFP

They also claimed that the government has no evidence against them being a 'security risk'.

"The government has no evidence that we are a 'risk' to the security of Pakistan and merely on the basis of the UNSC resolutions our liberty cannot be curtailed."?

Meanwhile, the Pakistan government has cancelled licences of 44 weapons issued to the JuD and other members of his organisations. An official of the Punjab Home Department said the decision was taken on security concerns. ?

"The Punjab home department cancelled licences of 44 weapons for security reasons."?

Saeed, the founder of banned terror outfit LeT and JuD is accused of plotting the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, which killed 166 people.

Despite a $10 million US bounty on him, Saeed had for years enjoyed a free run in Pakistan, due to his proximity to the political and military leadership in Islamabad.?

This changed last month after he was taken into house arrest, a move which came as surprise to many.

AFP

While the government in Islamabad says it acted to fulfil its obligations under United Nations Security Council's resolutions, the move came at a time when there were rumours that the US could list Pakistan among countries from which citizens will be barred from entering the country.