Hafiz Saeed calls Pak ex-PM a traitor for seeking peace with India

Newly-freed Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed, accused of masterminding the 2008 Mumbai attacks, called on Friday ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif a 'traitor' for seeking peace with India.

Saeed, who has a $10 million US bounty on his head over the Mumbai attack, spoke at Friday prayers after being freed earlier in the day from 11 months of house arrest by the Lahore High Court, which said there was no evidence to hold him.

Saeed was placed under house arrest in January while Nawaz was still prime minister, a move that drew praise from India, long furious at Saeed's freedom in the country.

On July 28, the top court had disqualified Sharif for failing to declare an unclaimed salary from a Dubai-based company of his son, as an asset when filing his nomination papers in 2013.

The JuD chief said Nawaz deserved to be removed for his peace overtures with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Nawaz Sharif asks why he was ousted? I tell him he was ousted because he committed treason against Pakistan by developing friendship with Modi, killers of thousands of Muslims," Saeed said.

The JuD chief also wasted no time in launching his anti-India rhetoric by saying he would mobilise people for the "cause of Kashmir".

"I fight for the case of Kashmiris. I will gather the people from across the country for the cause of Kashmir and we will try to help Kashmiris get their destination of freedom".

India had expressed outrage over the decision+ of the judicial board to release Saeed, calling it an attempt by Pakistan to mainstream proscribed terrorists and a reflection of its continuing support to non-state actors.

The ministry of external affairs (MEA) said Saeed's release confirmed once again the lack of seriousness by the Pakistan government in bringing to justice perpetrators of terrorism, including individuals and entities designated by the UN.

"It also appears to be an attempt by the Pakistani system to mainstream proscribed terrorists. Pakistan has not changed its policy of shielding and supporting non-state actors and its true face is visible for all to see," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in New Delhi yesterday.