JeM chief Masood Azhar's arrest `never happened`

Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah on Thursday said JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar has been taken under "protective custody".

Islamabad: After Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said Maulana Masood Azhar has been taken under "protective custody", the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) on Thursday countered the claims and said its chief was never arrested.

On its Facebook page, the terror outfit declared: “Disbelievers and hypocrites across the world are celebrating our arrest, but the arrest never happened,” reports The Indian Express.

In a statement in Urdu, JeM added: “Even if they happen, what difference will it make? No difference, except one. Allah willing, there will be more enthusiasm and excitement among people of the faith, and the work of jihad will gather more strength and energy.”

On Thursday, Sanaullah, while speaking on DawnNews talk show 'News Eye', said that Masood Azhar was taken into protective custody by the counter-terrorism department.

India says that the six terrorists who attacked the Indian Air Force (IAF) station in Pathankot in Punjab on January 02, killing seven security personnel, were Pakistanis and allied to the JeM.

On Wednesday, Pakistani media had reported that the JeM chief, known for his close ties with Pakistani intelligence agencies, was taken to an undisclosed destination and was questioned as part of a crackdown.

However, later, Pakistan's Foreign Office said it has no idea if Maulana Masood Azhar has been detained.

While news of his detention was coming in on Wednesday, Azhar wrote a piece, under his pen name Saidi, that the road chosen by the Pakistani government - in its crackdown against the JeM - is “very dangerous for this country”.