LAHORE: A court in Pakistan on Wednesday remanded to custody Hafiz Saeed, accused of masterminding a four-day attack on India’s financial capital in 2008, after a hearing following his arrest last week on terrorism financing charges, his lawyer said.
Saeed’s arrest came just ahead of a visit to Washington by Prime Minister Imran Khan and was widely seen as a move by the Islamabad government to smoothe the way before a meeting with US President Donald Trump.
The United States has offered a reward of $10 million for information leading to the conviction of Saeed, who has been arrested and released several times over the past decade.
On Wednesday, an anti-terrorism court in Gujranwala, near the eastern city of Lahore, remanded Saeed to custody for 14 days while counter-terrorism officials complete investigations, the lawyer, Imran Fazal, said.
US officials have long pressured Pakistan to try Saeed, who is designated a terrorist by the United States and the United Nations.
He is the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), or the Army of the Pure, a militant group blamed by the United States and India for the attacks that killed more than 160 people.
He has denied any involvement and said his network, which spans 300 seminaries and schools, hospitals, a publishing house and ambulance services, has no ties to militant groups.
Pakistan remands alleged mastermind of Mumbai attacks for 14 days
Pakistan remands alleged mastermind of Mumbai attacks for 14 days
- US had placed a $10 million bounty on information leading to Hafiz Saeed’s conviction
- His arrest came just ahead of Pakistani premier’s visit to Washington
Farhan propels Pakistan to 190-9 against USA in T20 World Cup
- The 29-year-old hit five sixes and six fours to score 73 from 41 balls
- Farhan passed 1,000 T20 runs in his 41st match before being caught
COLOMBO: Opener Sahibzada Farhan hit a robust half-century to help Pakistan post 190-9 in their T20 World Cup Group A game against United States in Colombo on Tuesday.
The 29-year-old hit five sixes and six fours in his 41-ball 73 and was aided by a brilliant 32-ball 46 by Babar Azam (four fours, one six) as Pakistan, who were sent in to bat, took advantage of a good batting pitch.
Farhan and fellow opener Saim Ayub, who scored 17-ball 19 with two sixes, put on 54 in five overs before Pakistan lost two wickets in the sixth over of the innings bowled by Shadley van Schalkwyk.
Ayub was caught off a slower one while skipper Salman Agha holed out on the deep square-leg boundary for one.
Farhan and Azam then put on an 81-run third-wicket stand as Pakistan cut loose in the middle overs.
Farhan passed 1,000 T20 international runs in his 41st match before he was caught in the covers off spinner Harmeet Singh in the 16th over.
Shadab Khan launched an assault to score 30 off 12 balls before Pakistan lost five wickets for just 13 runs in the last two overs.
Schalkwyk was the best USA bowler with 4-25, following his four-wicket haul against India in the 29-run defeat on Saturday.
