Pakistan Places Charity Head Under House Arrest

LeT-linked Cleric's Charity Declared 'Terrorists' by UN Security Council

Cleric Hafiz Mohammad Saeed has been placed under house arrest, just one day after his Jamaat-ud-Dawa charity was declared a terrorist organization by the United Nations Security Council. A Pakistani official said Saeed was one of nine leaders placed under house arrest, and police have been instructed to close the group’s offices.

Saeed, the founder of both the Jamaat-ud-Dawa and the Lashkar-e Taiba (LeT), was arrested twice in 2006, but the Punjab government had to release him after its high court ruled there was no reason for the detentions.

Jamaat-ud-Dawa is one of Pakistan’s largest charities, operating hospitals, schools and relief camps across the nation. One of the camps was raided this weekend, leading to the arrest of top LeT member Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi.

The LeT has been accused of being responsible for last month’s Mumbai terrorist attacks. In addition to labeling his charity a terrorist organization, the UN Security Council added Saeed to the terrorism watch list. Saeed condemned the UN Security Council’s determination, demanding to see the evidence against him.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.