Pahalgam attack probe: NIA court issues arrest warrant against Lashkar chief Hafiz Saeed

A special NIA court has issued an arrest warrant against Lashkare-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed, who is operating outside Pakistan, PTI reported. The arrest warrant was issued in connection with the investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack.

The order was issued on July 8 by a special judge of the NIA court. This comes two days after the NIA filed a supplementary chargesheet against the LeT chief in the Pahalgam terror attack case.

Saeed is designated as a global terrorist by the Indian and US governments. He is also believed to be one of the masterminds behind the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.

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The additional chargesheet, which was filed in the Jammu NIA special court, indicts the 76-year-old terrorist both in his personal capacity and as the head of the LeT as well as its proxy front, The Resistance Force (TRF). Saeed was charged under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act, 2023 and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

According to the order issued by the court, the NIA informed thaye Saeed, who is a resident of Sargodha in Pakistan’s Punjab, and remains absconding. It said he has been accused in the Pahalgam terror attack case and is deliberately evading arrest, as per a PTI report.

“The arrest and custodial interrogation of the accused (Saeed) is necessary for a fair, full and effective investigation. As a non-bailable warrant is issued against him, he is handed over to the Deputy Inspector General (DIG), NIA Jammu, for execution in accordance with law,” the order read, according to PTI.

Then he refused release in 2023

In 2023, India requested Pakistan to extradite Hafiz Saeed, which Islamabad refused, citing the absence of such a bilateral treaty between the two nations.

Then the leader shows sympathy to the slain terrorist

Maryam Nawaz, the chief minister of Pakistan’s Punjab province, last week described slain Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani as a “hero” and said Islamabad would continue to raise the “Kashmir issue” at all international forums.

Wani, an insurgent operating in Jammu and Kashmir, was killed by Indian security forces in Anantnag district on 8 July 2016.

In a statement issued on his 10th death anniversary, Maryam said Wani remained a “true hero” of the people of Kashmir.

“Pakistan will continue to raise the voice of the Kashmiri people and advocate their just cause at all international fora,” she added.

Maryam was also recently seen with the head of the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML) – the political arm of the banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa – which is also headed by Saeed.