Huge setback for 26/11 Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed as Pakistan govt bars him from leaving country

Islamabad: In a major setback to 26/11 Mumbai attack mastermind and JuD chief Hafiz Saeed, Pakistan government has placed him on the Exit Control List.

What is Exit Control List?

Basically, Exit Control List prevents him from leaving Pakistan.

Earlier, there were reports of detention of Hafiz Saeed under an anti-terrorism act by Pakistan.

Saeed's detention

According to JuD activists, Saeed was at Masjid-e-Qudsia Chauburji in Lahore when police descended there to implement the order of detention issued by Punjab Province's Interior Ministry in pursuance to a directive from the Federal Interior Ministry on January 27.

India had reacted cautiously to the reports of  his detention.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup had said the government has seen reports on Pakistan Interior Ministry order placing the JuD and the Falah e-Insaniyet Foundation under the watchlist and also the notification under which the foundation has been included in the second schedule of their anti-terror legislation under UN Security Council Resolution number 1267.

"We have also noted that Hafiz Saeed and four others have been placed under preventive detention." 

"Exercises such as yesterday's orders against Hafiz Saeed and others have been carried out by Pakistan in the past also. Only a credible crack down on the mastermind of the Mumbai terrorist attack and terrorist organisations involved in cross border terrorism would be proof of Pakistan's sincerity," Swarup said.

The Spokesperson further said India has long maintained that the UNSC 1267 provisions pertaining to listing and proscription of known terrorist entities and individuals must be effectively and sincerely enforced by all member states.

"We have also consistently called for bringing known terrorists under the ambit of the 1267 sanctions," he said.