Musharraf demands Hafiz Saeed's release, says Pak govt bending to Indian pressure

Lahore: Asserting that the Pakistan Government was taking action against Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) solely due to pressure from India, former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf has called for the release of UN-designated global terrorist Hafiz Saeed, who is under house-arrest.

The Dawn quoted Musharaf's interview to Samaa TV, where he said that Pakistan does not have a clear perspective in regard to terrorism, which had affected Hafiz Saeed and the JuD.

"In my opinion they are against Taliban (in Pakistan), they did not commit any terrorism in Pakistan or anywhere in the world. So they should be dealt separately. They were banned through United Nations by India and we are following the same line," he said.

Pakistani journalist Nadeem Malik, who took Musharraf's interview on Samaa TV, quoted him as saying on Twitter, "#NadeemMalikLive: Gen @P_Musharraf demands release of Hafiz Saeed, claims action against Jamatud Dawah was due to Indian pressure #Pakistan."

Asserting that Hafiz Saeed should definitely be freed, Musharraf further stated that the JuD was not a terrorist organization, but was running "a very fine NGO" instead, which had contributed in relief activities in post earthquake and post floods periods in Pakistan.

"They [JuD] have been engaging the religious youth in relief and welfare activities and if we push them against wall and call them terrorist, the religious youth could incline to Taliban and terrorists," said Musharraf.