China's government strongly denies any pressure on Pakistan over Hafiz Saeed

BEIJING – The government of China has strongly refuted a media report that President Xi Jinping has asked Pakistan to relocate Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed to a West Asian country.

The rejoinder came in response to a report, which cited a close aide of Pakistan Prime Minister to have said that Xi made the suggestion during their meeting on the sidelines of the Boao Forum in China last month.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson’s office has said the report that Xi has asked Abbasi to relocate the Pakistan-based JuD chief to a West Asian country was “shocking and baseless”.

“It is shocking and baseless that’s all we can say,” the official told media.

The clarification came in the wake of mounting international pressure to act against Hafiz Saeed.