ISLAMABAD: Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief, Hafiz Saeed on Tuesday filed a courtpetition to halt government plans to seize control of his charities.

JuD leader, Saeed and charities that he controls are all included onterrorism blacklists by the UN Security Council and the United States. Hedenies any role in the 2007 Mumbai attacks and says he and his charitieshave no links to militants.

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said on Monday his government will pushahead with a plan to take control of charities linked to Saeed.

The federal government placed Saeed under house arrest a year ago, but hewas released in November after a court ruled there was no evidence to holdhim.

Under pressure from the United States, United Nations and internationalinstitutions to crack down on terrorist financing, Pakistan drew up secretplans in December for a “takeover” of charities linked to Saeed.

The United States calls Saeed’s charities — Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and theFalah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) — “terrorist fronts” for LeT, which Saeedco-founded in 1987.

Pakistan’s plans to seize the assets were drawn up ahead of a UN SecurityCouncil team visiting Islamabad this month to review the country’s progressagainst blacklisted groups.

“We have filed a writ petition in the high court regarding this news whichis going on in the media about the government’s measures (against us) orthe United Nations delegation arriving here,” Saeed said in a pressconference in the eastern city of Lahore where his charities are based.

He said any government moves against him would be carrying out the will ofthe United States and India.

Saeed’s freedom in Pakistan, where he holds public rallies, has been athorn in Islamabad’s relations with India and the United States.

Saeed said the charities broke no laws and offered to allow the UN team tovisit projects they run.

“Any delegation from any corner of the world can visit there,” he said.“All of our work across Pakistan can be checked. We are not doing anythingillegal.”