Hafiz Saeed allowed to use bank account for "monthly expenses"
Pakistan had knocked on United Nations Security Council's doors with a peculiar request related to terrorist Hafiz Saeed. The nation said Saeed has to take care of a "family of four" and should be allowed monthly expenses for the same. In August, UNSC approved this request enabling Saeed to withdraw Pakistani Rupees 1,50,000 ($1,000) from his bank account. Here's more.
Islamabad approached the world body after it received a request from Pakistani "citizen" Saeed. In the document, Pakistan said Saeed was employed, between 1974 and 1999, as an assistant professor in University of Engineering and Technology Lahore. "He had completed a pensionable service of 25 years and drawing a pension of 45,700 through his bank account," Pakistan added in the letter.
Further, Pakistan apprised UNSC it had frozen all accounts of Saeed complying with UNSC Resolution 1267. However, since Saeed is the "sole breadwinner" for his family of four, he needs money for "food, drink and clothes expenses", After no one opposed to this request, UNSC told Pakistan to let Saeed withdraw money for "necessary basic living expenses for himself and his family".
"The Chair wishes to inform the members that no objections were placed by the set deadline of 15 August 2019 for the consideration of the draft letter. Consequently, the letter is approved and the chair will instruct the Secretariat to dispatch it," UNSC Committee said.
Saeed was the mastermind of 26/11 attacks in Mumbai in which 166 people were murdered. After the attack, UNSC banned him, meaning an arms embargo was put on him and his assets were frozen. In July, Pakistan "arrested" Saeed, who had earlier founded an outfit named Jamaat-ud-Dawa. Pakistan wanted to send across the message that it was working against home-grown terrorism.
Interestingly, India called Pakistan's actions a "drama" while reminding that such arrests have happened in the past as well. Separately, Pakistan is facing heat from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to take concrete steps against terror financing. The global watchdog will have a crucial meeting next month and if Pakistan's steps fail to impress it, FATF will demote the country to its blacklist.
