Hafiz Saeed to be released after ten months' house arrest

Early this year, Pakistani officials placed alleged 26/11 attacks mastermind and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed on house arrest in Lahore.

The action, which comes after pressure mounted on Pakistan by US President Donald Trump, was taken in accordance with Pakistan's anti-terrorism act.

Saeed blamed Indian PM Narendra Modi's "friendship" with Trump for his house arrest.

Amid the Donald Trump administration adopting a hard stance against Pakistan's support of terror groups, Islamabad has banned the Tehreek-eAzadi-Jammu & Kashmir backed by Hafiz Saeed.

The group is basically a proxy outfit of the Saeed-led JuD, the mastermind behind 26/11.

Though it is now on the list of forbidden organizations of Pakistan's National Counter Terrorism Authority, JuD still remains "under watch".

Pakistani authorities dropped terrorism charges against 26/11 Mumbai attacks' mastermind, Hafiz Saeed, and his outfit Jamaat-ud-Dawa.

Saeed was designated a terrorist by India, the US, and the United Nations for his involvement in the 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai.

The move paved way for the possible release of Hafiz, who is under house arrest. He was detained under Pakistan's Anti-Terrorism Act in Jan'17.

A Pakistani court has ordered 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed's release from house arrest after the government failed to submit any evidence against him.

This comes even as the government expressed fears about sanctions from the international community if the JuD chief is released.

Saeed was detained in January under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997. His house arrest was extended at least twice.