Bilawal Bhutto says ready to extradite Hafiz Saeed to India, draws his son's ire
Both LeT and JeM have been banned by Pakistan, according to the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta). While Hafiz Saeed, the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack mastermind, is currently serving a 33-year sentence for terror financing, Masood Azhar, a UN-designated global terrorist, has been proscribed by Nacta.Masood Azhar, one of India's most-wanted terrorists, has been linked to several major attacks in India, including the 2001 Parliament attack, the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, the 2016 Pathankot airbase assault, and the 2019 Pulwama suicide bombing. He was released from Indian custody in 1999 as part of the Indian Airlines Flight 814 Kandahar hijacking hostage swap.However, despite Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar being proscribed, such terrorists continue to roam freely within Pakistan and operate their outfits with impunity, and with the backing of the Pakistani military establishment.On that note, Bilawal said that the cases prosecuted against these "individuals" were those related to Pakistan, such as terrorist financing. He asserted that prosecuting Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar for cross-border terrorism was difficult due to what he claimed was "noncompliance" from India."India is refusing to comply with certain basic elements that require that conviction to take place. It's important to present evidence within these courts, for people to come over from India to testify, to put up with whatever the counter-accusations will be," he claimed."If India is willing to be cooperative in that process, I am sure there will be no hurdle in extraditing any individual of concern," he said.Continuing to whine about India, Bilawal said that New Delhi's vow to pursue terrorists was a "new abnormal". "This does not serve the interests of Pakistan and it does not serve the interests of India," he added.Pressed on the whereabouts of Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar, Bilawal stated that the LeT chief was incarcerated, while Islamabad believes the JeM chief is in Afghanistan.advertisement"It is factually not correct that Hafiz Saeed is a free man. He is in the custody of the Pakistani state," he claimed, while adding that Pakistan had been unable to arrest Masood Azhar."It is our belief that he is in Afghanistan. If and when the Indian government shares information that he is on Pakistani soil, we will be more than happy to arrest him," Bilawal asserted.TALHA SAEED HITS BACKResponding angrily to Bilawal's remark, Talha Saeed, the son of Hafiz Saeed, said the PPP leader shouldn't have given such a statement. He claimed that his remarks on extraditing Hafiz Saeed to India brought disgrace to Pakistan in the world.Talha Saeed, who is also a designated global terrorist, said his family and others had vehemently opposed extraditing Hafiz Saeed to India.- Ends(with inputs from PTI)
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