Hafiz Saeed political party to launch manifesto

LAHORE: Milli Muslim League (MML), JUD chief and Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed's new political party, on Tuesday said it will launch its manifesto here on March 23, following a Pakistani court's decision upholding its registration as a political party ahead of polls this year.

Saeed, who has kept a low profile after the government has apparently taken over all the movable and immovable assets of his Jamaat-ud-dawah and Falah-i-insaniyat Foundation (FIF) and frozen their bank accounts in the country, is likely to unveil the manifesto of his party.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) last week set aside the decision of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to reject the application of the MML for registration as a political party.

The ECP will decide the fate of the MML after hearing it in the coming days.

Earlier, the Election Commission of Pakistan had rejected MML'S application to register it (as a political party) on the interior ministry's recommendation saying the "MML has links with banned militant outfits".

In a statement issued here on Tuesday, MML president Saifullah Khalid said after the court's decision there is no "legal hurdle" left in the way of its registration as a political party.

"Now we will launch MML manifesto on March 23 on its first founding day," he said.

Referring to the court verdict, Khalid termed it a victory of the "Pakistan ideology", saying the court has ordered that the MML be given a chance to play its role in national politics.

About the forthcoming general election, the MML president said it has decided to field its candidates for all national and provincial assembly seats in the polls.