26/11-mastermind Hafiz Saeed to contest Pakistan General Elections next year

Saeed's JuD, touted as a front for the Lashkar-e-Taiba, formed the MML in August to "get (their) message to the grassroots".

Interestingly, the Election Commission hasn't recognized it yet.

Though the JuD has always denied being a front for the LeT, security analyst Ayesha Siddiqa says the birth of the MML indicates the need of JuD to "hide itself further so to avoid criticism".

In recent times, Islamist parties like MML and Tehreek Labaik Ya Rasool Allah have witnessed a growth.

Despite non-recognition, MML candidates Yaqoob Sheikh and Liaqat Khan contested by-elections in Lahore and Peshawar and diverted votes from the ruling PML-N.

These groups are backed by the military, which terms it a containment-policy for terrorists. However, many say their purpose is to dethrone the civilian government.

Saeed, who recently petitioned the UN to remove his name from the designated terrorists' list, still hasn't disclosed which constituency he would contest from.

In his first address after release, he blamed India and US for his detention. "I pray to God to help...JuD that we can play a role in Pakistan and Kashmir's independence."

Post his release, the US threatened Pakistan with "repercussions".

The rise of such Islamist parties signal a weakening of the civilian government in Pakistan, which has maintained the LeT is a "liability" they're struggling to remove.

Saeed's entry into politics also signals a mainstreaming of jihadists in Pakistan.

If such parties and candidates, which have openly fought for Kashmir's "independence", get into the Parliament, efforts at improving relations with India might be hit.