Below is an article on Hafiz Saeed, a prominent and controversial figure in Pakistan, written in a clear and informative style based on available knowledge and context as of March 16, 2025.
Who is Hafiz Saeed of Pakistan?
Hafiz Muhammad Saeed is one of Pakistan’s most polarizing figures—a man hailed by some as a religious leader and philanthropist, yet condemned by much of the world as a terrorist mastermind. Born on June 5, 1950, in Sargodha, Punjab, Saeed is best known as the co-founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), an Islamist militant group responsible for deadly attacks, including the infamous 2008 Mumbai assault that killed 166 people. His life and actions have placed him at the center of regional tensions, international sanctions, and Pakistan’s complex struggle with extremism.
Early Life and Ideological Roots
Hafiz Saeed was born into a Gujjar Muslim family shortly after the 1947 partition, when his parents migrated from what is now Haryana, India, to Pakistan. His father, Maulana Kamal-ud-Din, was a religious scholar and farmer, fostering an environment steeped in Islamic tradition. Saeed memorized the Qur’an as a young boy, earning the title “Hafiz,” and developed a deep interest in jihad, influenced by his maternal uncle, Hafiz Abdullah Bahawalpuri, a key figure in the Ahl-i Hadith movement—a puritanical sect that rejects democracy and emphasizes armed struggle.
Saeed’s formal education included a degree from Government College Sargodha (now the University of Sargodha) and a Master’s in Islamic Studies from King Saud University in Saudi Arabia. His time abroad exposed him to radical ideologies, particularly during the Soviet-Afghan War, when he trained in Afghanistan alongside figures like Abdullah Azzam, a mentor to Osama bin Laden. This period shaped Saeed’s worldview, blending religious fervor with militancy.
Founding Lashkar-e-Taiba
Returning to Pakistan in the 1980s, Saeed briefly taught Islamic Studies at the University of Engineering and Technology in Lahore and served on the Council on Islamic Ideology under General Zia-ul-Haq’s regime. In 1986, he co-founded Markaz-ud-Dawa-wal-Irshad with Zafar Iqbal, an organization promoting Ahl-i Hadith teachings. Its militant wing, Lashkar-e-Taiba, emerged in 1990, initially focused on fighting Soviet forces in Afghanistan with alleged backing from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
After the Soviet withdrawal, LeT redirected its efforts toward India, targeting Jammu and Kashmir in a bid to “liberate” it from Indian control. Saeed envisioned a broader mission: establishing an Islamic caliphate across South Asia. Under his leadership, LeT grew into a sophisticated outfit, known for its disciplined operatives and deadly operations.
The 2008 Mumbai Attacks
Saeed’s global notoriety peaked with the November 2008 Mumbai attacks. Over four days, ten LeT gunmen attacked multiple sites in India’s financial capital, including the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, a train station, and a Jewish center, killing 166 people and injuring over 300. India and the United States accused Saeed of orchestrating the assault, a charge he has consistently denied. The lone surviving attacker, Ajmal Kasab, confessed to LeT’s involvement, intensifying calls for Saeed’s arrest.
The attacks prompted the United Nations to designate LeT a terrorist organization, and the U.S. offered a $10 million bounty for Saeed’s capture in 2012. Saeed claimed he had left LeT in 2001 after Pakistan banned it, shifting his focus to Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), which he described as a charitable organization. However, the UN, U.S., and India view JuD as an LeT front, a charge supported by its inclusion on sanctions lists.
Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Public Persona
Post-2001, Saeed rebranded himself through JuD, which gained prominence after providing relief during the 2005 Kashmir earthquake. Operating schools, hospitals, and ambulance services, JuD projected a humanitarian image, but critics argue it served as a recruitment and fundraising tool for LeT. Saeed also led the Defense of Pakistan Council, a coalition of hardline groups opposing U.S. influence, and in 2017 launched the Milli Muslim League (MML), a political party. Though the MML was barred from contesting the 2018 elections, Saeed-backed candidates ran under another banner, signaling his enduring influence.
Legal Struggles and Imprisonment
Pakistan’s handling of Saeed has been a diplomatic tightrope. Facing pressure from India, the U.S., and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), he has been arrested and released multiple times since 2001, often due to insufficient evidence. In 2019, amid FATF scrutiny over terrorism financing, Pakistan convicted Saeed on related charges, sentencing him to five-and-a-half years in 2020. A heavier blow came in April 2022, when an anti-terrorism court imposed a 31-year sentence for two counts of terrorism financing.
As of March 16, 2025, Saeed remains imprisoned, with authorities citing a cumulative 78-year sentence since February 2020, according to UN records. Yet, doubts linger about Pakistan’s resolve, given its history of leniency toward LeT figures and Saeed’s repeated releases in the past.
Regional and Global Impact
Hafiz Saeed’s legacy is deeply divisive. In Pakistan, some see him as a champion of Kashmir’s cause and a victim of Western bias, while others view him as a liability tarnishing the nation’s image. India, which renewed its extradition demand in December 2023, considers him the architect of its deadliest terror attack. The U.S. and UN have labeled him a global terrorist, freezing his assets and restricting his movements.
Saeed’s story reflects Pakistan’s broader challenges: balancing domestic support for religious groups with international demands to curb militancy. Whether he remains behind bars or reemerges, his role in shaping jihadist ideology and India-Pakistan tensions ensures his name will not fade from headlines anytime soon.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of Hafiz Saeed’s life, actions, and significance as of March 16, 2025, drawing on historical context and recent developments. Let me know if you’d like further details or adjustments!
