Charity run by Pakistani Islamist blamed for Mumbai attacks launches political party

Record ID: 905546

  • Title: Charity run by Pakistani Islamist blamed for Mumbai attacks launches political party
  • Date: 7th August 2017
  • Summary: ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (AUGUST 7, 2017) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF MEMBERS OF MILLI MUSLIM LEAGUE PARTY ASSOCIATED WITH CHARITY RUN BY HAFIZ SAEED PAKISTANI ISLAMIST WITH $10 MILLION BOUNTY, AT NEWS CONFERENCE VARIOUS OF YAHYA MUJAHID (RIGHT), SPOKESMAN OF (JAMAAT-UD-DAWA) JUD, AN ISLAMIST CHARITY RUN BY HAFIZ SAEED REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) PRESIDENT OF MILLI MUSLIM LEAGUE PARTY, SAIFULLAH KHALID, SAYING: "Keeping the present conditions in mind, we have decided to make a new political party, so that Pakistan is made an Islamic and welfare state in the true sense of the word, and also, so that we can find a better solution to the issues faced by our beloved country." REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) PRESIDENT OF MILLI MUSLIM LEAGUE PARTY, SAIFULLAH KHALID, SAYING: "Whether it was the earthquake of 2005 in the northern regions, or floods in the country, whether it is a catastrophe from the skies, or any devastation on land, we consider it our duty to come to their assistance without discrimination. God willing, from the platform of the Milli Muslim League, we will continue this work throughout the country, right down to the Union Council level." REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) PRESIDENT OF MILLI MUSLIM LEAGUE PARTY, SAIFULLAH KHALID, SAYING: "First of all, Professor Hafiz Mohammad Saeed should be honorably released. There are no charges against him. He has always been found not guilty by the courts. He has been put under house arrest on charges of being innocent." PHOTOGRAPHER MILLI MUSLIM LEAGUE PARTY MEMBERS DISPLAYING PARTY FLAG
  • Embargoed: 21st August 2017 16:50
  • Keywords: new Milli Muslim League party following ideology of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) banned militant group Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT) Hafiz Saeed mastermind of 2008 Mumbai attacks
  • Location: ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN
  • City: ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN
  • Country: Pakistan
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016T5RW3R
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: A Pakistani charity that the United States accuses of being a front for anti-India militant group that staged the 2008 Mumbai attacks has entered politics by forming a new party, charity officials said on Monday (August 7).
    The new Milli Muslim League party will follow the ideology of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), which the U.S. says is a front for banned militant group Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT) and is run by Hafiz Saeed, the alleged mastermind of the 2008 attacks that killed 166 people.
    The charity had filed registration papers for a new party with Pakistan's electoral commission, JuD spokesman for Milli Muslim League told Reuters.
    JuD officials have always denied the charity is a front for LeT, and tout the group's humanitarian work as an example of Islamic charity.
    In the past, Saeed has often denounced democracy and the electoral process, saying it is not compatible with Islam.
    The United States has offered $10 million for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Saeed, who Reuters could not contact for comment.
    But he has always denied involvement in the Mumbai attacks of 2008 that brought the neighbours Pakistan and India to the brink of war.
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