Hafiz Saeed
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Hafiz Muhammad Saeed (Urdu: حافظ محمد سعید) is the amir (leader) of the Jama'at-ud-Da'wah[1] and the Lashkar-e-Toiba, widely considered to be a single terrorist organization originating in Pakistan. He was a professor at the University of Engineering and Technology (Lahore),Pakistan, in the department of Islamic Studies. He was sent to Saudi Arabia in the early 1980s by the University for higher studies where he met some Saudi Sheikhs who were taking part in Afghan jihad[citation needed]. They inspired him to join his colleague, Professor Zafar Iqbal, in taking an active role supporting the Mujahideen in Afghanistan. There he met some youth who later became his companions. In 1987 Hafiz Muhammad Saeed along with some Salafi Muslims founded Markaz Dawa-Wal-Irshad, which can be grouped with the Ahle Hadith. This is a puritanical interpretation of Islam that has drawn great financial support from Saudi Arabia. This organization spawned the jihadist group Lashkar-e-Taiba in 1990[2], with the help of Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence officers.[3] It was based in Pakistan before 9/11 and was transferred to Kashmir after that[citation needed]. Lashkar's primary target is the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir although Saeed has spoken of "liberating" Hyderabad State and Junagadh from Indian rule as well.[4]
Detentions in 2006
After the 11 July 2006 Mumbai train bombings, the provincial government of Punjab, Pakistan arrested him on August 9, 2006 and kept him under house arrest but he was released on August 28, 2006 after a Lahore High Court order. He was arrested again on the same day by the provincial government and was kept in the Canal Rest House in Sheikhupura. He was finally released after the Lahore High Court order on October 17, 2006.[5][6]
Personal life
He married Maimoona.
He is one of the most wanted person of India.[who?]
See also
Notes
- ^ "Jamaat-ud-Dawah website-Organization".
- ^ Swami, Praveen (December 9, 2008). "Pakistan and the Lashkar's jihad in India". The Hindu.
- ^ Schmitt, Eric (December 7, 2008). "Pakistan's Spies Aided Group Tied to Mumbai Siege". The New York Times.
- ^ Rahman, Maseeh (2008-12-01). "Rumours abound as inquiry begins its search for truth". The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-12-01.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ "LHC orders release of Hafiz Saeed". Dawn. October 18, 2006.
- ^ Subramanian, Nirupama (October 18, 2006). "Court orders Hafiz Saeed's release". The Hindu.