Global Terrorist ‘Hafiz Saeed’ to contest in Pakistan General Election 2018

Jamaat-ud Dawah(JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed, who was recently released from house arrest, on Saturday announced that he would take part in the Pakistan general elections 2018 on the National Assembly seat.

Saeed, who continues to remain a free man in Pakistan, told media persons that he would contest the election under Milli Muslim League (MML) party. However, he did not disclose any details about the constituency.

In August, the JuD entered politics by forming a new party, MML and announced Saifullah Khalid, a religious scholar, as its party president.

Khalid had said that the MML will work to make Pakistan a real Islamic and welfare state. He also added that his party will make efforts to cooperate with other like-minded political outfits.

On January 31, the JuD chief was detained under Section 11-EEE(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1977 and the court refused to extend his house arrest on November 23. He was subsequently released from detention.

The United States has declared him a global artist for being the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks that left 166 people dead. Upon his release from detention, India had expressed outrage by calling it an attempt by Pakistan to mainstream terrorists.

India termed the release as a reflection of Pakistan’s continuing support to non-state actors.