Terrorist Hafiz Saeed Ventures Into Politics, Renames JuD As Milli Muslim League Pakistan To Contest Elections

One of India's most wanted terrorist, the mastermind of 26/11 Mumbai attacks, Hafiz Saeed seems to be changing his strategies.

AFP/ File

Under house arrest in Pakistan and the administration there facing increasing international pressure to act against terror groups, Saeed the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the so-called charity organisation Jamat-ud-Dawah (JuD) has reportedly transformed the latter into a political party.

AFP/ File

According to reports the JuD has been renamed as Milli Muslim League Pakistan and Saeed is planning to approach the Election Commission of Pakistan to register his party.

The official announcement of his political party is likely to be made on August 14th, the Pakistan Independence Day.

Reacting strongly to the reports the Indian Foreign Ministry said "It appears that a person whose hands are stained with blood of innocent lives... such an individual is wanting to hide his blood-stained hands behind the ballot ink. The person who traded in bullets to take lives, is he trying to hide behind ballot?"

The development comes amid reports that Pakistan has extended the house arrest of Saeed by two more months.

AFP/ File

Saeed was taken into custody in January, a mere eyewash from Pakistan. Despite his so called detention, Saeed whose proximity with the political and military establishment of Pakistan has been given a free hand to run his business.