US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the so-called “mastermind” of the Mumbai terror attacks had been arrested because of the great pressure exerted [on Pakistan] during the last two years.
As usual, Trump used Twitter to comment on international affairs and said the search took 10 years.
“After a ten year search, the so-called “mastermind” of the Mumbai Terror attacks has been arrested in Pakistan. Great pressure has been exerted over the last two years to find him!”
He was commenting on the arrest of JuD chief Hafiz Saeed by Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) earlier in the day in connection with a terrorism financing case.
According to a spokesperson for CTD Punjab, Saeed was sent to prison on judicial remand after they presented him before an anti-terrorism court in Gujranwala.
Saeed was arrested at the Kamoke toll plaza, about 50km north of Lahore, JuD spokesman Nadeem Awan told Al Jazeera.
"The cases against him are all related to fundraising," Awan said. "He is charged with terrorism financing."
The JuD said it would challenge the arrest in court and apply for bail for Saeed.
"We are going to the High Court, and we will continue to use legal means to fight the injustice against us, and we believe the courts will support us," Awan said.
Saeed, who founded LeT but says he has played no role in the group since 2001, is accused by India of mastering the Mumbai attacks.
Pakistan has been facing increasing pressure to crack down on armed groups operating on its soil since 2017, when it was placed on a watch list by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a 39-member inter-governmental body that monitors curbs on terrorism financing and money laundering.
FATF will make a final adjudication on whether to blacklist Pakistan, a move that could isolate the country from the international economy, in October.
On Monday, he was granted pre-arrest bail by an anti-terrorism court in Lahore, where he had also been facing terrorism financing charges. On the same day, the Lahore High Court also directed authorities to provide evidence of Saeed's involvement in the crime.
Police on Wednesday intercepted Saeed on his way to a similar hearing in Gujranwala, the JuD spokesperson said.
As usual, Trump used Twitter to comment on international affairs and said the search took 10 years.
“After a ten year search, the so-called “mastermind” of the Mumbai Terror attacks has been arrested in Pakistan. Great pressure has been exerted over the last two years to find him!”
He was commenting on the arrest of JuD chief Hafiz Saeed by Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) earlier in the day in connection with a terrorism financing case.
According to a spokesperson for CTD Punjab, Saeed was sent to prison on judicial remand after they presented him before an anti-terrorism court in Gujranwala.
Also read: Crackdown On Terror Financing: Hafiz Saeed, Others Booked By CTD Punjab
Saeed was arrested at the Kamoke toll plaza, about 50km north of Lahore, JuD spokesman Nadeem Awan told Al Jazeera.
"The cases against him are all related to fundraising," Awan said. "He is charged with terrorism financing."
The JuD said it would challenge the arrest in court and apply for bail for Saeed.
"We are going to the High Court, and we will continue to use legal means to fight the injustice against us, and we believe the courts will support us," Awan said.
Saeed, who founded LeT but says he has played no role in the group since 2001, is accused by India of mastering the Mumbai attacks.
Pakistan has been facing increasing pressure to crack down on armed groups operating on its soil since 2017, when it was placed on a watch list by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a 39-member inter-governmental body that monitors curbs on terrorism financing and money laundering.
FATF will make a final adjudication on whether to blacklist Pakistan, a move that could isolate the country from the international economy, in October.
On Monday, he was granted pre-arrest bail by an anti-terrorism court in Lahore, where he had also been facing terrorism financing charges. On the same day, the Lahore High Court also directed authorities to provide evidence of Saeed's involvement in the crime.
Police on Wednesday intercepted Saeed on his way to a similar hearing in Gujranwala, the JuD spokesperson said.