The outlawed Jamaat-ud-Dawa said on Wednesday that it would frame an "appropriate response" to the Red Corner Notice issued against its chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed by Interpol, even as it emerged that the prime accused in 26/11 attacks was not on government's exit control list. "Our legal team is looking into the matter that has come to our notice and we will come out with an appropriate response," JuD spokesman Yahya Mujahid told PTI.
Mujahid pointed out that Saeed continued to be a "free man" as he was released from house arrest in June on the orders of the Lahore High Court. "The court pointed out in its order that there was no evidence linking Hafiz to terrorist activities or the Mumbai attacks," he said.
The Interpol issued Red Corner Notices against 59-year old Saeed and mastermind of Mumbai attacks 48-year-old Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi. The notice was issued after a Mumbai court issued a non-bailable warrant against the two for their role in the November 26, 2008, terror strikes in India's financial hub.
In Lahore, Saeed's lawyer A K Dogar said he "was not concerned at the moment" about the reports of Interpol issuing a Red Corner Notice against his client. "We will see when the matter comes to court," he told PTI. Meanwhile, official sources said Saeed was not included in the government's Exit Control List, which has the names of all persons barred from travelling outside Pakistan. The revelation assumes significance as the UN Security Council Resolution 1267, which declared the JuD a terrorist group, clearly states that assets of proscribed groups must be frozen and a travel ban imposed on their members.
Rana Sanaullah, the Law Minister of Punjab province, expressed ignorance about Saeed's name not being included in
the Exit Control List. Sanaullah also said the Pakistan government would not hand over Saeed to India. Though Saeed was placed under house arrest by Pakistani authorities after the Mumbai incident, he was freed on the orders of the Lahore High Court on June 2.
Mujahid claimed India was behind the moves to get Saeed implicated in such matters. The JuD has also approached the UN
about the restrictions imposed on the group by the Security Council in the wake of the Mumbai attacks, he added.
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