In a surprise move, CTD Punjab registers case against JuD Chief Hafiz Saeed over terror charges

In a surprise move, CTD Punjab registers case against JuD Chief Hafiz Saeed over terror charges

LAHORE – Punjab’s Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) registered cases against the chief of Jamaat-ud-Dawa, Hafiz Saeed and other members of JuD for terror financing and facilitation.

The department also booked people associated with other banned trusts operating as charities on Wednesday; cases were registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act against five proscribed outfits in Lahore, Gujranwala and Multan.

Dawatul Irshad Trust, Moaz Bin Jabal Trust, Al Anfaal Trust, Al Madina Foundation Trust and Alhamd Trust were named in the cases while the individuals include Hafiz Saeed, his brother-in-law Abdul Rehman Makki, Ameer Hamza, Muhammad Yahya Aziz, Muhammad Naeem Sh, Mohsin Bilal, Abdul Raqeeb, Dr Ahmad Daud, Dr Muhammad Ayub, Abdullah Ubaid, Muhammad Ali and Abdul Ghaffar.

The CTD has accused the men of ‘promoting terrorism and raising funds to facilitate terror activities’. As per the charges, these proscribed outfits were operating under the guise of charities and were involved in funnelling funds to terror suspects.

The accused would now be prosecuted in Anti Terrorism Courts for investigations.

In March this year, Pakistan had included Hafiz Saeed-led Jamaat ud Dawah (JuD) and its charity wing, Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) in the list of 70 proscribed organisations.

JuD and FIF were declared as proscribed groups by former president Mamnoon Hussain who had promulgated an ordinance amending the Anti-Terrorism Act in this regard.

After the ordinance became ineffective, the two organisations were wiped off the national list of proscribed organisations, however, in March, the two organisations were notified as proscribed organisations through the Ministry of Interior.