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Lashkar-e-Taiba founder decries 'ridiculous' US bounty

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  • Lashkar-e-Taiba founder decries 'ridiculous' US bounty

    4 April 2012 Last updated at 14:42 GMT
    Lashkar-e-Taiba founder decries 'ridiculous' US bounty

    The founder of Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) has described a $10m (£6.2m) bounty on his head - announced by the US on Tuesday - as "ridiculous and misguided".

    Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Hafiz Saeed said that he was neither a fugitive from American law nor a saboteur hiding in the mountains.

    Mr Saeed travels widely in Pakistan from his base in the city of Lahore.

    He now heads the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) group, widely seen as a LeT front.

    LeT is blamed for the 2008 Mumbai attacks in India. The three-day rampage by 10 gunmen in November 2008 left 165 people dead. Nine of the attackers were also killed.

    Local media on Wednesday quoted Pakistan interior ministry sources as saying that the government cannot proceed against Mr Saeed without "hard and undeniable evidence that can withstand judicial scrutiny".

    He has consistently denied any suggestion that either he or JuD - which he says is a charity - played any role in militant violence.

    Pakistan arrested LeT's senior leaders after the Mumbai attacks. But most of them, including Mr Saeed, were later freed on appeal.

    "I am here, I am visible," Mr Saeed said, suggesting he should be entitled to the reward money because his whereabouts were not a mystery.

    "I will be in Lahore tomorrow. America can contact me whenever it wants to."

    The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad - who attended the news conference given by Mr Saeed on Wednesday - says that he has been at the centre of an alliance of religious forces in Pakistan that is presently campaigning for an end to all ties between his home country and India and the US.

    Our correspondent says that the American decision to place a bounty on Mr Saeed has come at a time when its talks with the Afghan Taliban have faltered.

    'Regrettable'

    In an earlier interview with the Associated Press news agency, Mr Saeed said that the US only announced the reward because of his demonstrations against reopening supply lines through Pakistan to Nato troops in Afghanistan.

    The US says that Mr Saeed continues to spread ideology advocating terrorism
    The supply routes were closed down in November when 24 Pakistani soldiers on the border with Afghanistan were accidentally killed in a US air strike.

    "We are organising massive public meetings to inform the nation about all the threats which Pakistan will face after the restoration of the supplies," he told AP in a mosque in Islamabad on Tuesday.

    "With the grace of God, we are doing our work in Pakistan openly. It is regrettable that America has no information about me. Such rewards are usually for those who live in caves and mountains."

    The US has designated both LeT and JuD as foreign terrorist organisations. Intelligence officials say LeT has extended its focus beyond India in recent years - plotting attacks in Europe and Australia.

    Some US officials are also reported to be concerned that Pakistan may be dragging its feet over reopening the supply routes.

    Correspondents say that the US bounty offer represents a change in American thinking - previously it was thought that pursuing the JuD leadership would cause too much friction with the Pakistani government.

    The US state department says that Mr Saeed continues "to spread ideology advocating terrorism, as well as virulent rhetoric condemning the United States, India, Israel and other perceived enemies".

    The sole surviving Mumbai gunman, Pakistani national Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab, was captured and sentenced to death by a court in India. His appeal is pending.

    India has welcomed the bounty offer, saying it sent a strong signal to LeT members that "the international community remains united in combating terrorism" and bringing to justice those behind the Mumbai attacks.
    BBC News - Lashkar-e-Taiba founder decries 'ridiculous' US bounty
    Now this clown has been mocking the bounty.
    sigpicAnd on the sixth day, God created the Field Artillery...

  • #2
    Hope this man gets to meet his 72 very soon.

    Comment


    • #3
      "I will be in Lahore tomorrow. America can contact me whenever it wants to."
      "Prepare one coffin"
      Clint Eastwood in A Fist Full Of Dollars
      Last edited by USSWisconsin; 06 Apr 12,, 01:26.
      sigpic"If your plan is for one year, plant rice. If your plan is for ten years, plant trees.
      If your plan is for one hundred years, educate children."

      Comment


      • #4
        Somebody needs to remind these LeT savages of a guy named Osama.
        And perhaps how Lahore is, what, just a few hundred km from Abbottabad?
        “He was the most prodigious personification of all human inferiorities. He was an utterly incapable, unadapted, irresponsible, psychopathic personality, full of empty, infantile fantasies, but cursed with the keen intuition of a rat or a guttersnipe. He represented the shadow, the inferior part of everybody’s personality, in an overwhelming degree, and this was another reason why they fell for him.”

        Comment


        • #5
          In an earlier interview with the Associated Press news agency, Mr Saeed said that the US only announced the reward because of his demonstrations against reopening supply lines through Pakistan to Nato troops in Afghanistan.

          ..

          Some US officials are also reported to be concerned that Pakistan may be dragging its feet over reopening the supply routes.
          What is the reason for this bounty ? Why now ?

          Saeed makes it look like its just to shut him up.

          Comment


          • #6
            And perhaps how Lahore is, what, just a few hundred km from Abbottabad?
            Well I hope they don't blow it up to bad. It's a nice city.

            Comment


            • #7
              nyc newspaper metro(or amny) called him mastermind of 911, wasn't it obl?
              Last edited by omon; 06 Apr 12,, 04:43.
              "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!" B. Franklin

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by omon View Post
                nyc newspaper metro(or amny) called him mastermind of 911, wasn't it obl?
                Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was the mastermind of 9/11, OBL was his boss.

                Hafeez Saaed is responsible for: Notable incidents

                And in more recent years, his group's been active in Afghanistan working alongside the Taliban.
                Cow is the only animal that not only inhales oxygen, but also exhales it.
                -Rekha Arya, Former Minister of Animal Husbandry

                Comment


                • #9
                  Time for drones....is his issue that the bounty isn't high enough?

                  'Cause I'll kick in a few bucks to ramp it up!
                  “Loyalty to country ALWAYS. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it.”
                  Mark Twain

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Albany Rifles View Post
                    Time for drones....is his issue that the bounty isn't high enough?

                    'Cause I'll kick in a few bucks to ramp it up!
                    Is the bounty with "Dead or alive" string on it?

                    As far as I could read it is for information that would lead to arrest.
                    No such thing as a good tax - Churchill

                    To make mistakes is human. To blame someone else for your mistake, is strategic.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Doktor View Post
                      As far as I could read it is for information that would lead to arrest.
                      That's the other reason that i've seen mentioned in reports.

                      To acquire enough information so he can be tried by a US court.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Pakistani with U.S. bounty said helping de-radicalize militants

                        An Islamist leader who had a $10 million American bounty placed on his head this week has been helping Pakistan de-radicalize militants under efforts to stabilize the strategic U.S. ally, a top Pakistani counter-terrorism official said on Friday
                        More like a top terrorism official.

                        "Hafiz Saeed has agreed with the Punjab government program of de-radicalization and rehabilitation of former jihadis and extended full cooperation," the counter-terrorism official told Reuters
                        LOL.

                        A senior police official in Punjab province, who is closely involved with investigations into militant activity, confirmed that Saeed and his supporters were helping efforts to transform militants into law-abiding citizens.

                        "Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) were consulted, and they approved the de-radicalization plan. They assured us of their intellectual input and resource materials. They also offered teachers," he told Reuters, referring to the charity Saeed heads.
                        what kind of world do Pakistanis live in.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          A senior police official in Punjab province, who is closely involved with investigations into militant activity, confirmed that Saeed and his supporters were helping efforts to transform militants into law-abiding citizens.
                          Well Kasab and his friends who attacked Mumbai were law-abiding Pakistani citizens as well.

                          As for this "de-radicalizer" Hafiz Saeed, there are videos of him on Youtube shouting "India ka ek hi ilaaz, Al Jihad! Al Jihad!" which means "India has only one solution, Jihad! Jihad!". I don't think the last two words need to be translated. Incidentally his rallies where he utters these de-radicalizing words draw huge crowds of law-abiding Pakistani citizens.
                          Last edited by Firestorm; 06 Apr 12,, 21:04.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Saeed's entry on the state dept's 'rewards for justice' program.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by cirrrocco View Post
                              A senior police official in Punjab province, who is closely involved with investigations into militant activity, confirmed that Saeed and his supporters were helping efforts to transform militants into law-abiding citizens.

                              "Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) were consulted, and they approved the de-radicalization plan. They assured us of their intellectual input and resource materials. They also offered teachers," he told Reuters, referring to the charity Saeed heads.
                              I guess in Pakistani terms, law abiding citizen is one who wages "Jihad" against Pakistan's neighbours, and not against the Pakistani government!

                              From the reaction of the Pakistani government, seems like Hafeez Saaed and his cronies are the epitome of "law abiding" of that land. Wonder which terror camps are slated to get these new "teachers" offered by Jamaat-ud-Dawa.


                              Hafiz Saeed calls for jihad against America


                              MUZAFFARABAD / LAHORE: In a fiery Friday sermon, Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed called on the people to wage jihad against America in order to save Pakistan and Islam. “Come to us. We will teach you the meaning of jihad… The time to fight has come.”

                              The sermon was held at the JuD head office Jamia Markaz al-Qadsia in Lahore, where Saeed had his own security. Some of the security personnel were also seen carrying weapons with silencers. A box was placed at the exit and men asked for people exiting the mosque to give funds for jihad.

                              Saeed, who recently became the centre of attention after the US announced a $10 million bounty on him for his affiliation with the banned Laskar-e-Taiba (LeT), said that the JuD is not afraid of anyone and will continue with its jihad. “They [US] are even scared of my name.”

                              “This is the same jihad which caused the USSR to break and now America is failing because of it. Analysts and journalists don’t realise why America is failing, the only reason is jihad.” he remarked. “There are many parties in Pakistan, but America has only sent a message to Jamaatud Dawa, because we do jihad.”

                              Commenting on the Raymond Davis saga, Saeed said that everyone knows what he was doing in the country and what the American spy agency Central Investigative Agency (CIA) is trying to accomplish in Pakistan. “America should leave Pakistan and Afghanistan peacefully. Then, we will not come to you with guns but will instead invite you to Islam.”

                              Saeed added that the reason why the media is against jihad is because it is influenced by the west, and the western education makes them degrade jihad.

                              After the sermon, a rally was taken to the Lahore press club which was joined by union traders, some Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz leaders, other Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC) leaders and was led by Convener of Hurmat-e-Rasool Committee Ameer Hamza. Saeed himself did not participate in the rally.

                              Hundreds of Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC) activists took to the streets Friday, calling for “holy war” and torching a US flag to condemn a $10 million US bounty on Jamaatud Dawa’s (JuD) founder Hafiz Muhammad Saeed.
                              DPC, an alliance of religious groups, has called for rallies to denounce the move against Saeed, whose Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) group was blamed for the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

                              In Muzaffarabad, around 500 activists shouted “Al Jihad, al Jihad (holy war)” as they marched on the city and set fire to a US flag in a main square.

                              DPC activists also staged demonstrations outside Lahore Press Club and Faisalabad.

                              Speakers asked President Asif Ali Zardari to cancel a planned visit to India on Sunday and demanded an American apology for the bounty.

                              “Such steps are forcing Muslims towards guns,” said Abdul Aziz Alvi, the local head of JuD, which is seen as a front for LeT, is headed by Saeed and blacklisted by the United Nations and United States.

                              “We condemn American announcement against Hafiz Saeed,” cried a banner at the rally, attended by members of other banned and religious groups.

                              The reward for Saeed was announced by US Under Secretary of State Wendy Sherman in India on Monday.

                              Saeed, who lives openly in Pakistan, has mocked the charges, calling a press conference to say he is ready to face “any American court” to answer charges.

                              Hafiz Saeed calls for jihad against America – The Express Tribune

                              The fact that the Pakistani government continuously stands by this man, and praises him and his organization and sees nothing lawfully wrong with his behaviour, and considers him and his organization as "law-abiding", so far in to go and get "re-radicalization" plans approved through this man; now ban me, but I say with all firm belief, Pakistan, it's government, it's army, and all their supporters define evil.
                              Last edited by Tronic; 07 Apr 12,, 18:52.
                              Cow is the only animal that not only inhales oxygen, but also exhales it.
                              -Rekha Arya, Former Minister of Animal Husbandry

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