New Delhi: In a move that didn’t get much notice outside Pakistan, Lashkar-e-Taiba chief and 26/11 main accused Hafiz Mohammad Saeed has been charged in a terror financing case by a Gujranwala court besides being named as an accused in four similar cases. While India continues to await significant action against Saeed and recent developments are seen as intended to fend off international pressure in the context of FATF ‘grey listing.’ Indian agencies are waiting to see if he is chargesheeted in four other cases as well and there are credible curbs on Lashkar chief’s actions and movements.
The five cases in which Saeed has been named with a few others for allegedly funding terror activities have been registered across Gujranwala, Multan and Lahore. As per details, the provisions invoked against Saeed relate to Section 11 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), of Pakistan. The ATA cases registered against Saeed include case no. 32/19 in Gujranwala, relating to a seized property in Moza Makwal; case no. 90/19 in Multan, regarding a property in Tehsil Mian Channu; case no. 16/19 in Lahore, relating to a property seized in Raiwind Mandi, Lahore; and cases no. 21/19 and 22/ 19 at Sahiwal, Lahore, about seized properties in Lahore and Tehsil Arifwala respectively.
The cases seem mild considering Saeed’s role in planning and executing terror activities in India and global links Lashkar has developed. The charges invoked against Saeed and others are under Section 11-F of ATA, dealing with soliciting funds or raising funds for a proscribed organisation; Section 11-H dealing with receiving or providing money for buying a property one knows may be used for purposes of terrorism; and Section 11-N that provides for imprisonment for a term of not less than six months and not exceeding five years, with fine, for a person who commits an offence under Sections11-H to11-K.
