Washington: In a major setback to Pak based terrorist orgnisation, 2008 Mumbai attacks mastermind and Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed’s political front Milli Muslim League (MML) was designated as a foreign terrorist organisation by US
The US also designated seven members of the MML as foreign terrorists for acting on behalf of Lashkar-e-Taiba.
The State Department said changes have been done to designate LeT as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under Executive Order 13224.
The designations accorded to the Pakistan-based organisations deny the resources it needs to plan and carry out further terrorist attacks.
The US also said that LeT continues to function openly within Pakistan, organising fund raisers, holding public rallies and training .
US had designated LeT as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) on December 26, 2001
LeT has repeatedly changed its name over the years, the State Department alleged. In January 2017, the LeT began operating under the name TAJK.
Under this name, the LeT has engaged in inciting terrorism, as well as recruiting and fundraising.
In August 2017, Saeed created the MML to serve as a political front for the group.
“LeT members make up MML’s leadership and the so-called party openly displays Saeed’s likeness in its election banners and literature,” the State department said.(Agencies) .
