Pak lists 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed, 4 others under Anti-Terrorism Act

Mumbai attack mastermind and JuD chief Hafiz Saeed has been listed under Pakistan's anti-terrorism act by the provincial Punjab government, a tacit acknowledgement of his links to militancy.

Dawn News reported that the Punjab government has included names of Saeed and one of his close aides, Qazi Kashif, in the fourth schedule of the Anti-terrorism Act (ATA).

Three other men were also added to the list — Abdullah Obaid from Faisalabad, and Zafar Iqbal and Abdur Rehman Abid from the Markaz-i-Taiba, Muridke.

Saeed and the four men added to the fourth schedule of the ATA were also placed under house arrest on January 30 in Lahore amid an angry uproar from his party and political allies.

The five men were identified by the Interior Ministry as "active members of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and Falah-i-Insaniyat (FIF)," the report said.

The ministry directed the Counter Terrorism Department to "move and take necessary action" against them. The names of Saeed and 37 other JuD and FIF leaders had earlier also been placed on the Exit Control List (ECL), barring them from leaving the country.

The Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 empowers the government to mark a person as "proscribed" and to place that person on the fourth schedule on an ex-parte basis. The mere listing of a person in the fourth schedule of the ATA shows that he is linked with militancy in some way, the report said. Those listed face a barrage of legal consequences like travel bans and scrutiny of assets etc.

Any violation of provision of the fourth schedule may result in imprisonment of up to three years and fine or both.

The action against Saeed was taken after the country was hit by at least eight terror attacks which killed more than 100 people.

"Detention of Saeed shows that army supported the step by the civilian government, and it was viewed by many as a sign of changing security priorities," the daily said.

Saeed was also put under house arrest after Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008 but he was freed by court in 2009.

Saeed also carries a reward of $10 million announced by the US for his role in terror activities.

Saeed and 37 other leaders associated with JuD and FIF have also been placed on the Exit Control List (ECL), which prohibits them from leaving the country and places their assets under scrutiny.

The fact that Saeed has been listed under the Anti-Terrorism Act proves that he is linked with terrorism in some way. However, his inclusion in the Fourth Schedule seems to be an admission by Pakistan of Saeed's involvement in militancy or terrorist activities after shielding the 26/11 mastermind for years.

Observers feel Pakistan might have taken this decision to place Saeed under the Anti-Terrorism Act to please US President Donald Trump after reports emerged that Pakistan might also be included in the US' list of countries that would face visa restrictions/ban. Trump has already signed an executive order on an immigration ban on seven countries and has consistently said that he would take strict action against those involved in terrorism.