Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed to field candidates in general elections

According to a report by PTI, Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed’s Jammat-ud-Dawah is fielding more than 200 candidates in the 25 July general elections on national and provincial Assembly seats across the country even as Saeed himself has decided not to run for parliament.

Lashkar -e- Taiba militant group Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) carried out the deadly attack in Mumbai, 2008. They launched its political front Milli Muslim League (MML) but it has not been yet registered with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

The JuD activists have taken the nomination from ECP and are fielding their candidates on the platform of the AAT.

Ahmad Nadeem, an MML spokesperson, told PTI on Saturday, “MML president Saifullah Khalid and AAT chief Ehsan Bari have agreed to field joint candidates on the platform of ATT in the upcoming elections. Under the seat adjustment agreement, the MML will field more than 200 educated candidates. They will contest the elections on the AAT’s election symbol chair.”

When asked if Saeed plans to contest in the elections, the spokesman said: “No … Hafiz sahib has no such plans at the moment. The MML is taking part for the first time in the general elections and hopefully, we will make to the parliament.”

“Our priority is that those joining us from other political parties or educated youths in respective constituencies be given AAT tickets.”
He also said that the election campaigns will start after the candidates have filed their nomination papers.

He said there are many political figures that have joined the MML and it has awarded them AAT tickets.

Earlier, MML president Saifullah Khalid had said: “We have decided to support the candidates of AAT in 25 July elections. We will play a role in the victory of those contesting on the symbol of a chair. To save Pakistan, patriotic people should be supported in the elections.”

The JuD formed MML at the time when Saeed was detained in Lahore. Saeed and his four aides — Abdullah Ubaid, Malik Zafar Iqbal, Abdul Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Hussain — were placed under house arrest in Lahore on 30 January under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The JuD was declared as a foreign terrorist organization by the US in June 2014. The JuD chief also carries a $10 million American bounty on his head for his role in terror activities.

Image Source – The Hindu