26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed slaps lawsuit on Pakistan defence minister over banning donations

Globally-designated terrorist and the 26/11 Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed has slapped a Rs 100 million defamation notice on Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khurram Dastgir.

“The minister has been asked to tender an apology in writing within 14 days, or face litigation,” read the notice served by Advocate A K Dogar, on behalf of JuD chief Saeed, under Section 8 of the Defamation Ordinance of 2002, local media reported.

This comes days after Pakistan prohibited Saeed’s Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) and Falah-i-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) from collecting donations.

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) on Monday ordered to prohibit all companies from donating cash to JuD and FIF, as well as several other such organisations named in a list of banned outfits by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

Following the ban, Dastgir had stated that the action against JuD, FIF and other organisations were ‘linked’ to ongoing Operation Raddul Fasaad’ and were taken so that “terrorists cannot open fire on schoolchildren anymore.”

Dogar accused that the minister had caused “immense damage” to the “reputation” of Saeed and JuD by issuing an “irresponsible” statement.

Pakistan’s government had earlier seized control of charities and financial assets linked to Saeed, who Washington has designated a terrorist. However, they said …read more