JuD chief Hafiz Saeed arrested by CTD

LAHORE: Outlawed Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed was arrested by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Punjab on Wednesday.

Hafiz Saeed who has several cases pending against him was travelling to Gujranwala from Lahore to appear before an anti-terrorism court to seek pre-arrest bail when he was taken into custody.

A CTD official told media Hafiz Saeed had been presented in an anti-terrorism court and sent to prison. He added that the charge sheet against Saeed will be presented soon. The official further said that a case against Hafiz Saeed had been lodged under the anti-terrorism act. 

Chief Minister Punjab's spokesperson Shahbaz Gill confirmed Saeed was arrested near Gujranwala.

“The main charge is that he is gathering funds for banned outfits, which is illegal,” the spokesperson told Reuters.

The arrest is part of the Government of Pakistan’s crackdown against outlawed organisations under the National Action Plan.