Under House Arrest In Pakistan, Hafiz Saeed Renames Jamaat-ud-Dawa As 'Tehreek Azadi Jammu And Kashmir'

Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) the Pakistani charity organization which the United Nations has recognised as an aliases of banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) now has a new name - Tehreek Azadi Jammu And Kashmir (TAJK).

AFP

TAJK popped up just days after Pakistan government, to the surprise of many, began a crackdown on JuD and placed Hafiz Saeed under house arrest.

The development came just two day before a previously announced 'Kashmiri independence' event by JuD on February 5, which is observed as 'Kashmir Day' in Pakistan.

According to Pakistani media, TAJK is planning to hold a big Kashmir conference on Sunday in Lahore after evening prayers.

AFP

There are also reports that the organization under its new banner has reactivated its donations centres and ambulance services in different districts of Punjab, including Lahore, which is the hub of its activities.

This is even while police continue to claim that they have sealed the offices of JuD and closed its collection centres and ambulance service.

This is not the first time Saeed has taken the rebranding route to escape the law.

After Lashkar-e-Taiba was banned in 2002, Saeed it appeared as Jamaat-ud-Dawa which was said to be a charity organization.

Reuters

Meanwhile, China has rejected reports that the country had put pressure on Pakistan, which led to the house arrest of Saeed.

China¡¯s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang indicated that Beijing supported international cooperation on counter-terrorism with Pakistan, provided it is conducted with Islamabad¡¯s consent.

¡°China supports the Pakistani government in independently making decisions on counter-terrorism and international cooperation on counter-terrorism.¡±

Saeed, the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attack is one of India's most wanted terrorists.

On November 26, 2008, Lashkar terrorists went on a rampage in Mumbai killing 166 people, one of the deadliest terror attacks the country has ever witnessed.

Following his house arrest last week Pakistan government has hinted at filing an FIR against Saeed, but hasn't clarified on which case will he be facing the law.