LeT founder Hafiz Saeed gets 10-year sentence in terror financing cases

A Pakistani court docket on Thursday gave Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed, held accountable by India for masterminding the 2008 Mumbai assaults, and two shut aides jail sentences totalling ten-and-a-half years in two circumstances of terror financing — a choice seemingly influenced by the stress dropped at bear on Islamabad by the Financial Action Task Force. It can also be being seen as a sign of Saeed’s reducing utility to Pakistan

Besides Saeed, the others sentenced by the anti-terrorism court docket in Lahore are Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) leaders Zafar Iqbal and Yahya Mujahid, who served as JuD’s spokesperson for a few years. All three have been sanctioned by the UN Security Council.

Saeed’s brother-in-law Abdul Rehman Makki, additionally a prime chief of JuD, was given a six-month sentence in the identical circumstances. Saeed, presently serving a jail time period in reference to different terror financing circumstances, was produced for the sentencing by anti-terrorism court docket decide Arshad Hussain Bhutta.

Saeed was given two separate five-year jail phrases beneath provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act for utilizing and offering funds for acts of terrorism. He was additionally given a six-month jail time period for being a member of a banned group. The decide ordered the seizure of Saeed’s “movable and immovable property” and directed him to pay fines totalling Pakistani ₹110,000.

All three sentences will run concurrently. Since Saeed is already in jail serving two sentences of five-and-a-half-years given to him in February, he is not going to serve any further jail time.

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“Since the convict has already been convicted… by this court vide judgment dated 12.02.2020, so the punishment awarded to him in this case shall also run concurrently with punishment in said cases,” the court docket’s order stated.

People accustomed to developments stated on situation of anonymity the sentencing of Saeed was largely attributable to stress on Pakistan from western powers and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to crack down on terror teams and terror financing, together with prosecution of these funnelling funds to terrorists.

The individuals added Saeed’s conviction in 4 separate circumstances this yr may very well be a sign the navy institution now not considers him an asset. Virtually all of Saeed’s prime aides have been arrested and placed on trial, and there are indications that they’re now not enjoying a job in directing LeT’s operations.

“It appears that LeT operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, who was arrested for the Mumbai attacks and later released on bail in 2015, is the main person directing the operations (of the terror group),” stated one of many individuals cited above. Lakhvi’s present whereabouts should not recognized.

A complete of 41 circumstances had been registered towards Saeed and his aides by Punjab Police after he was arrested in July 2019. Of these circumstances, two had been selected Thursday, bringing the tally of circumstances determined thus far to 24. The relaxation are nonetheless being heard by anti-terrorism courts. Saeed and his aides are being held in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail.

 

There was no fast response from Indian officers to Saeed’s sentencing.

Asked about Pakistan-backed terror teams working in Jammu and Kashmir at a weekly information briefing, exterior affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava stated India had protested towards Pakistan’s “continued support to cross-border terrorist infiltration into India” and reminded Islamabad of its bilateral dedication to now permit any territory beneath its management for use for terrorism.

Srivastava additionally the “incessant infiltration of terrorists and induction of weapons to fuel terror activities continues unabated” and these actions weren’t doable with out the help of Pakistani forces deployed alongside the Line of Control.

Sameer Patil, fellow for worldwide safety research at Gateway House, stated Pakistan might say after Saeed’s sentencing in a number of circumstances that it has delivered on FATF’s demand for prosecution of these concerned in terror financing, and declare an ethical victory. “But it’s more important to see what Saeed does next, including the outcome of any appeals in higher courts. The Pakistani establishment may have sacrificed Saeed but his network remains and his son Talha Saeed and Lakhvi are still active. The game is not over yet,” he stated.