Hafiz Saeed Opens Office in Lahore With Eyes on 2018 Pak Elections

Saeed was named a global terrorist by the UN Security Council in December 2008.

Hafiz Saeed.

(Photo: Reuters)

Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed has opened the first office of the Milli Muslim League (MML) in Lahore, days after the Pakistan government said the group would breed violence and extremism in politics while opposing a plea seeking its registration as a political party.

Saeed had announced on 2 December, that he would contest the Pakistan general elections, scheduled to be held in 2018. The announcement came days after the Lahore High Court ordered his release from house arrest.

Saeed yesterday inaugurated the office in Lahore's National Assembly-120 constituency, from where a JuD member had contested the bypoll in September.

In January this year, the JuD chief was detained under the Anti-Terrorism Act. He was released after the court refused to extend his detention on 23 November.

Saeed’s organisation, Jammat-ud-Dawah, said they would contest the polls under the banner of the Milli Muslim League (MML) – which is yet to be registered in the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Jammat-ud-Dawa, the political arm of the Lashkar-e-Taiba terror outfit, floated the MML in August this year to mark its entry into politics, as it attempts to woo voters with promises to make Pakistan "a real Islamic and welfare state".

Saeed was named a global terrorist by the UN Security Council's Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee in December 2008. The US, too, has designated him a global terrorist and has announced a reward of $10 million for information leading to his arrest and conviction.

India had expressed outrage over the decision to release Saeed, calling it an attempt by Pakistan to bring terrorists into the mainstream and a reflection of its continuing support to non-state actors.

(With inputs from IANS and PTI)