JuD chief Hafiz Saeed's movement restricted

M Zulqernain

Lahore, Sep 21 (PTI) Pakistani police today restricted
the movement of Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed,
mastermind of the Mumbai terror attacks, and barred him from
leading Eid prayers here citing "security concerns".

Security was beefed up outside Saeed's residence in Johar
Town area here late last night. TV channels reported that he
has been placed under house arrest but there was no official
word on it.

Superintendent of Police (Lahore division) Sohail Sukhera
said Saeed's movements had been restricted due to concerns for
his security.

"We have only stopped Saeed from offering Eid prayers at
a ground near Gaddafi Stadium to ensure the safety of him and
his people. We have intelligence information in this regard
and that is why we cannot allow him to move freely," Sukhera
told PTI.

59-year-old Saeed, also the founder of the banned
Lashker-e-Taiba that has been blamed for the Mumbai attacks,
was to have led the Eid prayers at the ground near Gaddafi
Stadium. The prayers were led by his son.

However, Geo News reported that "Saeed has been place
under house arrest and police party has been deputed outside
his residence to restrict his movement."

The move came three days after police in Faisalabad city
registered two First Information Reports under the
Anti-Terrorism Act against Saeed for making speeches last
month in which he incited people to wage jehad against
infidels.

Asked whether directions had been issued by authorities
for Saeed's arrest in connection with two cases registered
against him, Sukhera said: "We have no direction whatsoever in
this regard. We are only ensuring his security keeping in view
terrorist threats."

Special Superintendent of Police (Faisalabad) Sarfraz
Falki too said he had not received any directions from the
government for Saeed's arrest. "We will collaborate with
Lahore Police when we get directions," he said.

JuD spokesman Yahya Muhajid told reporters that it was an
"injustice" that Saeed had not been allowed to offer Eid
prayers at the place of his choice.

He claimed that the Pakistan Government was taking action
against him due to pressure from the US and India.

Mujahid said there was "no formal order" either to place
Saeed under house arrest or restrict his movements.

Saeed was placed under house arrest in December last year
after the JuD was declared a terrorist organisation by the UN
Security Council. He was freed on the orders of the Lahore
High Court in June.

The federal and Punjab governments filed appeals against
the High Court's order in the Supreme Court but the matter is
yet to be listed for hearing. PTI MZ
JVN