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India slams Pak on Hafiz Saeed release

Saeed is designated a global terrorist by the United Nations. The US has also a $10 million bounty on him

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A day after a Lahore High Court judicial review board ordered 26/11 Mumbai attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed's release from house arrest, India expressed "outrage", saying Pakistan has exposed its true face by attempting to "mainstream" UN-proscribed terrorists.

The Ministry of External Affairs said the order confirms the "lack of seriousness" on Pakistan's part in bringing terrorists to justice, and its nefarious designs to shield non-state actors.

Top US counter-terrorism and South Asian experts also expressed anger at the banned Jama'at-ud-Da'wah (JuD) chief's imminent release that has come as a setback to India's efforts to bring to justice the perpetrators of the 2008 attacks in which 166 people had been killed.

Bruce Riedel, who served in the US National Security Council, said it was time to rescind Pakistan's status as a major non-NATO ally.

Saeed is designated a global terrorist by the United Nations. The US has also a $10 million bounty on him.

"India and the entire international community is outraged that a self-confessed and UN-proscribed terrorist is being allowed to walk free and continue with his evil agenda," said MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar.

He described Saeed as the "prime organiser" of the November 26 attacks and said he was also responsible for unleashing numerous other terror attacks against Pakistan's neighbours. "His release confirms once again the lack of seriousness on the part of the Pakistani government in bringing to justice perpetrators of heinous acts of terror, including by individuals and entities designated by the UN.

He said it also appears that Pakistani system was attempting to mainstream proscribed terrorists, and that Islamabad has not changed its policy of shielding and supporting non-state actors and its true face is there for all to see.

On Wednesday, the judicial review board rejected an appeal of Pakistan's Punjab provincial government, which had sought to extend Saeed's detention for three more months, after it failed to submit any evidence against him.

Saeed's counsel AK Dogar said he "feared that the Punjab government may detain him in any other case."

Media reports from Pakistan quoting sources close to Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif said the home department would slap more charges to ensure Saeed is not released. They said that the government would go after JuD's activities. "Their activities are already under the scanner and action against them was taken many times in the past. We will do so again," an official said.

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