Pak media criticises Hafiz Saeed

Pakistan’s leading English newspaper Dawn has castigated the Pakistani authorities for giving a free hand to Hafiz Mohammad Saeed to indulge in political activities despite being the ameer of a banned organisation — Jamaatul Daawa (JuD).

In its hard hitting editorial on Tuesday, the newspaper said Hafiz Mohammad Saeed has every right to participate in a public rally because the Pakistani authorities, for whatever reason, have failed to prove his involvement in illegal activities, including the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

Saeed enjoys a free hand so much that he and his supporters were part of a demonstration organised by religious parties in Lahore on Sunday. The Dawn editorial further stated that Hafiz Saeed has long been seen as an asset by sections of ‘the Pakistani establishment’ because his agenda is India-centric.

“Organisations such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba and the various incarnations of the Taliban are a product of Pakistan’s flawed policy of strategic depth, which sought to gain influence in Afghanistan through proxy agents and carry out militant activities in Indian-held Kashmir. It was hoped that this approach would change with the realisation that the real enemy lies within, that we are fighting our own war to safeguard the social fabric of Pakistan.

But has the use of proxy agents stopped altogether? It is unlikely that someone like Hafiz Saeed could strut his stuff as publicly as he did on Sunday without the acquiescence at least of the right quarters”, the editorial said.