Pakistan's Punjab government takes control of headquarters of Hafiz Saeed's Jamaat-ud-Dawa

Days after Pakistan government banned 2008 Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed-led Jamat-ud-Dawa and its charity wing Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF), Punjab government on Thursday took control of their headquarters. According to reports, the government will soon take control of Jamat-ud-Dawa’s mosque and madrasa in Lahore's Chauburji.

“Pakistan's Punjab govt takes control of headquarters of banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Falah-e-Insaniat, it will also take control of JuD mosque and madrasa in Lahore's Chauburji tonight,” tweeted ANI.

Sources: Pakistan's Punjab govt takes control of headquarters of banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Falah-e-Insaniat, it will also take control of JuD mosque and madrasa in Lahore's Chauburji tonight. pic.twitter.com/VEm9kxodoY

— ANI (@ANI) March 7, 2019

Meanwhile, the United Nations has rejected Saeed’s appeal to remove his name from its list of banned terrorists, government sources said.

The development comes close on the heels of UN's 1267 Sanctions Committee receiving a new request to ban Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar after the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. Jaish, Pakistan-based banned terror outfit has claimed responsibility for the strike.

The UN decision to reject the appeal of Saeed, also a co-founder of terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), came after India provided detailed evidence including "highly confidential information" about his activities, sources told PTI, adding that the verdict of the global body was conveyed to his lawyer Haider Rasul Mirza earlier this week.

Saeed, chief of UN-designated terrorist organisation Jammat-ud-Dawa (JuD), was banned on December 10, 2008 by the United Nations Security Council after the horrific Mumbai attacks in which 166 people were killed.

He had filed an appeal with the UN through Lahore-based law firm Mirza and Mirza in 2017, while he was still under house arrest in Pakistan, for removal of the ban.

Saeed's request was opposed by India as well as other countries that had originally listed him - US, UK and France, sources said.

Significantly, Pakistan did not oppose the appeal despite claims by the new Imran Khan-led government there that it was taking action against the banned terrorists and their organisations in what they call a 'Naya Pakistan' (new Pakistan).

 Last month, the US, the UK and France made a fresh bid at the UN to ban JeM head Masood Azhar, who is also residing in Pakistan as per Pakistani foreign minister's admission. JeM is already a UN-designated terrorist organisation.