Thaindian News

Lahore, July 7(ANI): A day after the Punjab government placed Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and its chief Hafiz Saeed on a ‘banned organizations’ list, he has come out into the open and challenged India to prove that his organisation was involved in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

Saeed also confirmed that there were no restrictions on his activities or his party.

The Pakistan Punjab government had earlier directed authorities to keep a tight vigil on various outlawed organisations and their office bearers, but significantly, it directed authorities that Saeed would not be restricted in his activities as the others on the list.

The JuD chief is only barred from travelling abroad, and not eligible for an arms licence.

Saeed further blamed India for the Data Darbar attacks, in which at least 42 people were killed and over 175 injured in two consecutive suicide bombings and a low intensity blast.

He further declared suicide attacks in Pakistan ‘haram’, saying that it had no moral grounds, and elements behind such attacks should be publicly executed.

“Some foreign elements are trying to create religious discord in the country,” The News quoted Saeed, as saying.

India has long been demanding action against JuD, and has provided enormous evidence regarding its involvement in the attacks.

Home Minister P. Chidambaram, during his recent visit to Islamabad, had also demanded substantial action against the JuD.

The attacks, which drew widespread condemnation across the world, began on 26 November 2008 and lasted until 29 November, killing at least 173 people and wounding at least 308. (ANI)