Reacting to the sentencing of the 26/11 Mumbai terror mastermind and UN-designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed by a Pakistani court, the Indian government has reminded Pakistan that if it serious, it should fast-track justice for the 26/11 and other terror attacks in India. On February 12, an anti-terrorism court in Lahore had sentenced Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed to five-and-a-half-years in prison in each of the two terror-financing cases that will run concurrently. It also imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 in each case.
The sentencing came after the counter-terrorism department (CTD) lodged the cases against Saeed and his associates last year. CTD had lodged 23 cases against the terror outfit.An official, however, questioned the timing of the Pakistani action, saying that the decision was taken on the eve of the UN’s FATF (Financial Action Task Force) meeting that will review Pakistan’s progress on the steps taken to prevent terrorist activities on its soil.
“We have seen media reports that a court in Pakistan has sentenced internationally proscribed terrorist Hafiz Saeed in terror financing case. It is part of a long-pending international obligation of Pakistan to put an end to support for terrorism,” an official said.The Indian government will closely monitor whether Pakistan would take action against other all terrorist entities and individuals operating from its territory and bring the perpetrators of cross border terrorist attacks, including in Mumbai and Pathankot to justice, he added.Pakistan has not yet convicted Hafiz Saeed in the Mumbai terror attack case.
The FATF meeting, to be convened in Paris from February 16, will decide whether Pakistan should be blacklisted for failing to act against terror.
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