'Can’t be trusted': Hafiz Saeed’s son Talha hits out at Bilawal Bhutto over extradition remark

Hafiz Saeed’s son Talha Saeed

Jihadi groups in Pakistan are reportedly upset with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari over his recent remarks suggesting the possible extradition of Pakistani individuals, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar, to India as part of confidence-building measures.

According to top intelligence sources quoted by News18, these groups have expressed anger that politicians are playing their own game and, instead of protecting them, are offering them to the “enemy.”

In an interview with Al Jazeera on July 4, Bilawal said: “As part of a comprehensive dialogue with Pakistan, where terrorism is one of the issues that we discuss, I am sure Pakistan would not be opposed to any of these things.”

He was responding to a question about extraditing Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar as possible concessions and good-faith gestures to India.

Both LeT and JeM have been banned by Pakistan, as per the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA). Saeed, the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack mastermind, is currently serving a 33-year sentence for terror financing.

Azhar, a UN-designated global terrorist, has been proscribed by NACTA and is believed to be living in an undisclosed location.

Hafiz Saeed’s son, Talha Saeed, hit out at Bilawal Bhutto, saying he is not a trusted face when it comes to foreign policy. “Bilawal Bhutto is not a true Muslim; how can he offer my father like this?" Talha said in a statement on Sunday.

Talha also accused India of being involved in terrorism in Pakistan and masterminding a vicious campaign. “We hope our patriotic media will critically discuss Mr Bhutto’s statement, whose family and party have a history of toeing the western and Indian narrative against Pakistan and, on instances, providing them with critical information harming national security,” he said.

He further questioned whether such individuals should be trusted with sensitive foreign policy matters, adding that Bilawal’s interview raises serious concerns.

Further, the report, quoting sources, said that jihadi groups are increasingly divided between the army and the political class. Bilawal’s statement, they claimed, was irresponsible and potentially damaging, especially as it openly acknowledged the presence of LeT and JeM in Pakistan, something the state has long sought to deny.