Pak Punjab Govt. to pursue Saeed case provided federal Govt. gives ‘fresh’ evidence

September 25th, 2009 RAWALPINDI - Pakistan's claims regarding putting the banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa's chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, the alleged mastermind of the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, under house arrest has been laid bare again as a senior Police official has clarified that the authorities have only 'restricted' his movement. Interacting with media persons at a press conference here, Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Tariq Saleem Dogar said Saeed has neither been arrested nor put under house arrest, rather the police is providing an extra security cover to the Lashkar-e-Taiba's (LeT) founder leader.

September 22nd, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that action against Jamaat-ud-Dawa Chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, the alleged mastermind of the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, would only be taken based on evidence gathered against him. Interacting with media persons on the sidelines of a program in Multan, Gilani said action against Saeed would be taken in accordance with the evidence, which clearly implies that Islamabad is unlikely to take any substantial action against the terrorist leader.

September 22nd, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Tuesday confirmed that Hafiz Saeed, the alleged mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, had been arrested, with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani saying the evidence against him would decide what action needs to be taken. The interior ministry can tell you the actual position but I believe he is in custody.

September 21st, 2009 ISLAMABAD /CHENNAI - India Monday demanded that alleged 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed be interrogated as all evidence against him was "on Pakistani soil", after reports came in that the chief of the banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) has again been placed under house arrest in Lahore. "Even if it is a face saving technique, I have no objection.

September 3rd, 2009 DUBAI - Notwithstanding Interpol's Red Corner notice issued against the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed, the alleged 26/11 mastermind, Pakistan has once again refused to take action against him, saying the government is not 'obliged to immediately arrest him'. Interior Advisor Rehman Malik said there are not have enough evidence to establish the LeT kingpin's involvement in the terror attacks.

August 21st, 2009 ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI - Pakistan said Friday an Indian dossier pointing to the alleged involvement of Jamaat-ud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks did not contain anything substantial. The reference apparently was to a document handed over Aug 1 and not the one furnished only hours earlier Friday.

August 5th, 2009 ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI - Pakistan Wednesday banned the Jamaat-ud Dawa (JuD) of Hafiz Saeed, who India says masterminded the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, and 24 other religious and welfare organisations. Also banned is the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group that Saeed founded and which morphed into the JuD in the wake of the December 13, 2001, attack on the Indian parliament that New Delhi blamed on the outfit.

July 17th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - In the continuing game of political 'ping-pong' over Jamaat-ud-Dawaa (JuD) chief Hafeez Mohammad Saeed ,the Pakistan government has now claimed that it has enough proof against him to overturn the Lahore High Court's verdict to release the 26/11 mastermind. Deputy Attorney General Shah Khawar said the government has enough evidence against Saeed, and that it would utilize those facts to persuade the Supreme Court to declare the high court's verdict invalid.

July 17th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan government does not have sufficient convincing evidence against Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed to pursue its case in the Supreme Court, seeking the November 2008 Mumbai attack mastermind's detention. While the federal government has claimed that it has enough evidence to carry on the case against Saeed, a senior official said it is finding it difficult to provide significant evidence against the JuD chief and his close ally Colonel (retired) Nazir Ahmed.

July 15th, 2009 LAHORE - It seems that the threat of adverse international reaction over the failure of the Pakistani government to detain the Jamaat-ud-Daawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed, the prime accused in the November 2008 Mumbai terror strikes may see the federal government file a fresh petition against him, even if the Punjab government decides to withdraw its case. The provincial government, on Tuesday (July 14) had said that it lacks evidence against Saeed, so it was difficult for it to continue the case.

July 14th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The government in Pakistan's Punjab province has decided to disassociate itself from the Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed case and filed a plea for its withdrawal. On Monday, the provincial government informed the Supreme Court that it has challenged the release of Saeed due to certain "confidential evidence" against him.

July 7th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Government and the Punjab province Government on Tuesday re-filed the petitions against the release of Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, after removing the objections. The federal and Punjab governments after removing these objections have re-filed the petitions.

July 5th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Following the Punjab government's decision to challenge the Lahore High Court's (LHC) verdict of releasing the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafeez Muhammad Saeed and Colonel (retired) Nazir Ahmad, both of whom are accused of masterminding the 26/11 Mumbai carnage, now the federal government has also decided to file a separate petition against the verdict. The Pakistan government is likely to file the petition on Monday, July 6.

June 2nd, 2009 LAHORE - The Pakistan Government's reservations about producing evidence against the Mumbai terror attacks' mastermind Hafiz Saeed may have been the reason behind the Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief's release from house arrest. The Lahore High Court has ordered Saeed's release due to lack of evidence, but it is pertinent to note that Pakistan's Attorney General Sardar Latif Khosa had just days ago told the Lahore High Court that the government had enough 'material' to prove Saeed's involvement in terror activities, but it couldn't produce it in the court keeping in mind the 'national security'.

May 3rd, 2009 LAHORE - The Pakistan People's Party and the Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz have decided to remain coalition partners in Punjab, while both have failed to reach a consensus on joining the federal government. During a meeting between Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday, The PML-N expressed its reluctance to become a coalition partner at the Centre.