Pak not taking required action against Hafiz Saeed: MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday said that the entire international community feels Pakistan is not taking mandated action against global-terrorist Hafiz Saeed, rather trying to mainstream him and his system as a political party.

MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "Pakistan is mandated under the United Nations Law to take action against Hafiz Saeed but instant developments coming out of Islamabad, seems to be an attempt by Pakistan establishment to mainstream him and his system as a political party."

"It is a way of shielding what he used to do earlier: Raveesh Kumar," he added.

Kumar further said that the true face of Hafiz Saeed and Pakistan is for all to see.

"Not only India but also the entire international community feels that the action which should be taken against Hafiz Saeed is not being taken," he said.

Yesterday, a senior Pakistani Government official said that the process of confiscating the assets of the two entities Jammat-ud-Dawah (JuD) and the Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF), both linked to 26/11 mastermind Saeed, was still to be completed.

In January, Saeed's entities were moved from Pakistan's watch list to the list of proscribed organisations after the government introduced a presidential ordinance by amending the Anti-Terrorism Act to include UN-designated terrorist groups and individuals for terror financing, paved the way for the confiscation of JuD and FIF assets.

However, despite the ban, the entities were found to be freely operating in Pakistan.

Last month, Pakistani authorities confirmed that the country was going back on the "grey list" of the FATF, after a span of nearly four years.