UN Panel Calls Hafiz Saeed ‘Sahib,’ India Wants Clarification

Perturbed over calling 26/11 Mumbai terror attack mastermind and Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed as ‘sahib’ by a UN Security Council panel, India will seek a clarification on it from the world body.

The government will seek clarification on the ‘sahib’ reference made in the communication by Gary Quilan, the Chair of UN Security Council Committee, on December 17.

Mr Quinlan made the reference in the communication on information regarding banned terror organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba and Saeed pursuant to earlier UN resolutions concerning Al Qaeda and associated individuals and entities.

The United Nations had declared the JuD as a terrorist organisation in December 2008 as also Saeed who was individually designated by the UN under UNSCR 1267 in December 2008. The resolution entails freezing of funds and other financial assets or economic resources of designated individuals and entities and prevent the entry into or transit through their territories by designated individuals.

The United States had slapped a $10 million bounty on Saeed, the founder of LeT, and his brother-in-law in April 2003.

But Saeed roams free in Pakistan and often addresses public rallies in which he routinely makes inflammatory statements.

–PTI