US: Saeed a ‘terrorist’, should be prosecuted to fullest extent of law

Washington/New Delhi, Jan 19 

The US today said it has told Islamabad clearly that Hafiz Saeed is a “terrorist” and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, reacting strongly to Pakistan Prime Minister’s remarks that there was no case against the Mumbai attack mastermind.

The reaction by the State Department came after Pakistan Premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, during an interview to Geo TV on Tuesday, referred to Saeed as ‘sahib’ or ‘sir’.

“There is no case against Hafiz Saeed sahib in Pakistan. Only when there is a case can there be action,” Abbasi had said.

Reacting to Abbasi’s comments, State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said: “We believe that he should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

“He is listed by the UNSC 1267, the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee for targeted sanctions due to his affiliation with Lashkar-e-Taiba, which is a designated foreign terror organisation,” Nauert told reporters.

India, meanwhile, re-emphasised that it considers Hafiz Saeed ‘the prime organiser of the Mumbai attacks’. “Pakistan has to fulfil its international obligations and demonstrate seriousness in taking action against such global terrorists and not to hide behind flimsy excuses,” said the MEA spokesperson. — PTI/TNS