Provide evidence against Saeed, his son-in-law tells India
Khalid Waleed, the son-in-law of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed has told India to provide evidence against Saeed rather than crying on America's shoulders. Waleed's statement comes after Saeed's release from house arrest on the orders of the Lahore High Court. Waleed is considered Saeed's successor and has been mentioned in intelligence inputs on terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
On 22nd November, a Pakistani court 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.
"India is always crying internationally. Why don't you provide evidence instead of just using television clips of the Mumbai attacks? America has asked for Hafiz Saeed's re-arrest only because of pressure from India," Waleed told Hindustan Times in a phone interview from Lahore. He said Saeed would continue speaking for Kashmir's liberation. "Kashmir is our core issue. We will not give up," he added.
Waleed also confirmed that Saeed had petitioned the UN requesting the removal of his name from the list of designated terrorists. Meanwhile, the US has condemned Saeed's release from house arrest and urged Pakistani authorities to immediately re-arrest and prosecute him.
"Waleed is being groomed by Saeed and has been the mastermind behind several terror attacks in Kashmir for the last year," an Indian government official told Hindustan Times. Pakistani terrorist Bahadar Ali, who was arrested in Kashmir last year following terrorist leader Burhan Wani's death, also named Waleed. Ali told interrogators that Waleed asked him to throw grenades at Indian security forces.
