New Delhi: The Indian government has formally asked Pakistan to extradite Hafiz Saeed, the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, as reported by India Today.
The Ministry of External Affairs has officially sent a request to Pakistan, asking them to begin the legal procedures for Saeed’s extradition.
Hafiz Saeed is a top figure on India’s list of most-wanted terrorists, with the US offering a $10 million bounty for his suspected role in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
India has consistently requested the extradition of Hafiz Saeed to stand trial for the Mumbai attacks, but the absence of an extradition treaty with Pakistan makes the process challenging.
Despite Saeed’s repeated assertions of innocence and disavowal of leadership in LeT, he has encountered legal troubles. Initially arrested in July 2019, he received an 11-year sentence shortly before Pakistan’s Financial Action Task Force review.
In April last year, documents revealed a Pakistani court sentenced Saeed to 31 years for terrorism financing. However, uncertainty surrounds his current status, as some reports suggest he might be free, having been released from house arrest in 2017. Saeed has experienced multiple arrests and releases over the past decade.
Last year, India declared Hafiz Saeed’s son, Talha Saeed, a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). As of now, Talha Saeed is preparing to participate in the upcoming general elections in Pakistan, representing the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML), a political party established by his father.
