UNSC allows Hafiz Saeed access to bank account on Pak plea

New York: The UN Security Council (UNSC) has allowed Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief and the 2008 Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed access to his bank account, which had been frozen because of the world body’s sanctions, after Pakistan made a plea on his behalf.

Saeed’s assets had been frozen after the UNSC sanctioned him under Resolution 1267 for links with the Al Qaeda and Islamic State (IS).

In a decision taken on August 15, the UN Sanctions Committee said it had received a letter from Pakistan seeking permission to allow Saeed “certain expenditure” from his frozen bank account.

The Chair said “no objection” had been received from any member till 3 p.m. on that day and hence Pakistan’s request was approved.

Pakistan, in its plea, said that it had received “an application from a Pakistani citizen” Hafiz Muhammad Saeed requesting that he be allowed access to the frozen funds in his bank account to the tune of 1.5 lakh Pakistani Rupees “you cover necessary basic living expenses for himself and his family”.

Pakistan’s letter said the bank account had Saeed’s pension on account of his serving as a professor for 25 years in University of Engineering and Technology, from where he retired in 1999.

He will be able to access 70,000 Pakistani Rupees for food and 25,000 Pakistani Rupees each for medicines and public utilities.

Saeed, who is the mastermind of the Mumbai attacks and several other terror attacks in India, also carries a bounty of $10 million announced by the US.

 Published on: Sep 26, 2019 at 12:32 IST

IANS