Islamabad: India has officially requested the extradition of Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind behind the 26/11 attacks, from Pakistan, as confirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi. The extradition request is related to a specific money laundering case. However, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, pointed out that there is no bilateral extradition treaty between India and Pakistan.
Bagchi emphasized that Hafiz Saeed, designated as a UN-proscribed terrorist and founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), is wanted in numerous cases in India. Despite being sentenced to 33 years in jail in April 2022 for “financing terrorism,” Saeed has been in prison since July 2019 on other charges. His role in the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai has made him a high-profile figure wanted in India.
The political landscape surrounding Saeed has also drawn attention, as the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML), a political entity associated with Hafiz Saeed, is set to field candidates in all national and provincial assembly constituencies for the upcoming general elections scheduled for February 8, 2024. Hafiz Saeed’s son, Talha Saeed, is reportedly participating in the elections as a candidate for the National Assembly’s constituency NA-127 in Lahore.
This development has sparked criticism, given Saeed’s status as a UN-designated terrorist and the founder of a banned terrorist organization. The international community continues to watch closely as India seeks the extradition of Hafiz Saeed for trial in connection with specific cases.
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