South Asia
Pakistan urges UNSC to allow Hafiz Saeed to withdraw money for supporting family, UNSC approves request
Islamabad had urged the UNSC to allow Saeed to withdraw 1,50,000 Pakistani rupees to cover his and his family's basic necessities.
A statement by the UNSC Committee has been quoted in media, ".....The Chair wishes to inform the members that no objections were placed by the set deadline of 15 August 2019 for the consideration of the draft letter. Consequently, the letter is approved and the chair will instruct the Secretariat to dispatch it."
"The Chair has the honour to refer to his draft letter to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan communicating the Committee's decision with respect to the intention of the Pakistani authorities to authourise certain expenditures to the benefit of Hafiz Muhammed Saeed (QDi. 263), Haji Muhammad Ashraf (QDi. 265) and Zafar Iqbal (QDi. 308) to cover basic expenses, as specified in the note verbale of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan," it read.
Pakistan said Saeed's bank account was blocked in compliance with the UNSC resolution 1267. In the letter Pakistan reportedly identified Saeed as a former assistant professor of engineering and technology in Lahore.
Saeed, the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba, was the mastermind of November 2008 Mumbai attack that killed at least 174 people and wounded over 300. Following the attack, he was banned by the UNSC.
On charges of terror financing, he was arrested by Pakistan in July though India referred to the move as an "eye-wash".