Hafiz Saeed’s detention a “policy decision” in Pakistan’s interest: Army

RAWALPINDI/LAHORE: In an unusual move, Pakistan’s army on Tuesday said the detention of the Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed was a “policy decision in the national interest” as the government announced that the Jamat-ud Dawa leader’s 90-day house arrest could be extended if required.

“The detention is a policy decision taken in the national interest. The relevant department may give more information in a day or two and the situation will become clearer,” Military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor told reporters here.

According to the police, Saeed and four other JUD leaders were put under house arrest after order of detention was issued by Punjab Province’s Interior Ministry on Monday in the pursuance to a directive from the Federal Interior Ministry on date of January 27.

His aides are as follows: Abdullah Ubaid, Zafar Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Niaz - were detained and placed under house arrest in Chauburji near Jud’s Lahore headquarters.

“Although they belong

His aides: Abdullah Ubaid, Zafar Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Niaz were detained and placed under house arrest in Chauburji

to different districts of Punjab but the government has decided to place them under arrest in one house in Lahore,” a senior police officer said.

“The government has detained Saeed and four other JUD and Falaha-i-insanyat (FIF) leaders for 90 days with effect from January 30 .”

“But this detention may further be extended on completion of this period if required,” an interior ministry official said. “The government may take some further steps against the JUD and its sister organisations in coming days,” he said. He also added that the names of several other JUD and FIF activists have been placed on Exit Control List only to stop them from leaving the country.