Hafiz Saeed casts his vote in Lahore

Mumbai attack mastermind and JuD chief Hafiz Saeed today asked the people to give vote for "Pakistan's ideology" as he cast his vote in the general election in which his son and son-in-law are participating as candidates.

He cast his vote in Lahore's Wafaqi Colony amid concerns in the country over the participation of Islamist hardliners in election in large numbers.

The Milli Muslim League (MML), the political wing of Saeed's banned Jamaat-ud Dawa (JuD), has fielded 260 candidates for the national and provincial polls under the umbrella of little known outfit Allah-o-Akbar Tehreek (AAT).

Hafiz Talha Saeed, the son of Saeed, is contesting from NA-91 seat from Sargodha (about 200-km from Lahore), the home town of JuD leader.

Saeed's son-in-law, Khalid Waleed, is a candidate in PP-167. These candidates are contesting under the AAT banner because the election commission has denied registration to the MML.

Talking to reporters after casting his vote, Saeed said the people should come out of their homes and vote for "Pakistan's ideology".

"I wish these elections turn out be useful for the country," he said and urged the people to vote for 'chair' - the election symbol of AAT.

The JuD was declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the US in June 2014. The group is a front for the Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group that carried out the deadly 2008 Mumbai attack.

Saeed carries a USD 10 million American bounty on his head for his role in terror activities.