Hafiz Saeed joins debate over conditions attached to aid bill

M Zulqernain

Lahore, Oct 10 (PTI) Banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief
Hafiz Mohd Saeed has joined the debate over conditions
attached to US aid to be provided to Pakistan, charging that
clauses asking the country to take action against militant
groups had been included due to "Indian pressure".

Saeed, mastermind of the Mumbai terror attacks, told a
congregation at Friday prayers at the JuD mosque at Chauburji
here that the US had included clauses in the Kerry-Lugar bill
asking Pakistan to take action against militant groups in
Quetta and Muridke "due to pressure from India".

He, however, claimed the people will not allow this to
happen.

"The people of Pakistan and the army will not allow
anyone to launch attacks on Quetta or Muridke. We will resist
them," he said. The JuD has its headquarters at Muridke, about
40 km from Lahore.

Saeed, also the founder of the Lashker-e-Taiba,
demanded that the government should not offer a hand of
friendship to India as it is an "enemy and will remain so".

He also lashed out at the Pakistan government for
"enslaving" the country by "accepting the tough" conditions in
the Kerry-Lugar bill. "Reject the bill and trust god," he
said.

Saeed appreciated the military's decision to express
concern over the Kerry-Lugar bill. The army's top commanders
said earlier this week that the clauses in the bill could
affect Pakistan's national security interests.

The JuD chief has stepped up his criticism of India
and the US since police in Faisalanad registered two First
Information Reports against him under the Anti-Terrorism Act
for inciting people to wage jehad or holy war against infidels
and for seeking funds for his banned group.

Though police officials gave an impression last month
that Saeed had been placed under house arrest in connection
with these two cases, it later came to light that no formal
order had been issued for his detention.

Police officials have also said that law enforcement
agencies had only enhanced Saeed's security in view of
reported threats to him.

Though Saeed was put under house arrest in December
last year after the UN Security Council declared the JuD a
terrorist group, he was freed on the orders of the Lahore High
Court in June. PTI MZ
SDE