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Pakistan moves on Mumbai accused Pakistan moves on Mumbai accused
(29 minutes later)
Pakistan has put the founder of an Islamic militant group accused of having links to the Mumbai attacks under house arrest. Pakistan has put the founder of an Islamic militant group accused of having links to last month's Mumbai attacks under house arrest.
Cleric Hafiz Mohammad Saeed set up the group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which India says planned and carried out the attacks.Cleric Hafiz Mohammad Saeed set up the group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which India says planned and carried out the attacks.
Pakistan is also closing offices of Mr Saeed's Jamaat-ud-Dawa charity, after it was put on a UN blacklist.Pakistan is also closing offices of Mr Saeed's Jamaat-ud-Dawa charity, after it was put on a UN blacklist.
Pakistan has denied any involvement in the attacks, which killed at least 170 in Mumbai (Bombay) last month. Pakistan has denied any involvement in the multiple attacks, which killed 173 people in India's financial capital.
Pakistan's Interior Ministry told the BBC that Jamaat-ud-Dawa buildings would be shut across the country immediately.Pakistan's Interior Ministry told the BBC that Jamaat-ud-Dawa buildings would be shut across the country immediately.
Hours before he was placed under house arrest, Mr Saeed told the BBC that he had broken links with Lashkar-e-Taiba. Hours before he was placed under house arrest, Mr Saeed told the BBC he had severed links with Lashkar-e-Taiba.
He also vigorously denied claims that he had connections with the Mumbai attackers. Pakistan has been under intense pressure to act since the 26 November attacks on its neighbour, and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said Pakistan needs to do "much more" to combat terrorism.
"We don't have any office [that] develops terrorists, do terrorist activities. I preach religion," he said.
UN pressureUN pressure
Mr Saeed's spokesman, Abdullah Montazir, told Reuters news agency that police had encircled Mr Saeed's home in Lahore and told him he could not leave. In his interview wit the BBC, Mr Saeed vigorously denied claims that he had connections with the Mumbai attackers. class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7778326.stm">Kashmiri views on militant group class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7765875.stm">Peaceful school or 'terror' base? class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7753863.stm">Mumbai: A Pakistan militant link?
"They have told him detention orders will be formally served to him shortly," he said. "We don't have any office [that] develops terrorists, do terrorist activities. I preach religion," he said.
Earlier, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani promised Pakistan would comply with a UN Security Council demand to list Jamaat-ud-Dawa as a terrorist group. Mr Saeed's spokesman, Abdullah Montazir, said police had encircled his client's Lahore home, informing him he that he could not leave and that detention orders would be formally served "shortly".
At least 170 people died after the Mumbai attacks last month Lahore police chief Pervez Rathor said Mr Saeed and four other officials of the charity would be held under house arrest for three months. He did not say whether the men would be charged.
Meanwhile, India announced a major overhaul of its security and intelligence services.
Newly-appointed Interior Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram said the measures would include:
  • Reinforcing coastal security
  • Creating a new national investigative agency
  • Improving police training and strengthening anti-terror laws
Mr Chidambaram also reiterated the Indian government's view that "the finger of suspicion unmistakeably points to the territory of our neighbour Pakistan" as the source of the attacks.
'Terrorist group'
Earlier, Pakistan's Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani promised Pakistan would comply with a UN Security Council demand to list Jamaat-ud-Dawa as a terrorist group.Mohammed Ajmal Amir Qasab remains in police custody
Speaking after meeting top US official John Negroponte in Islamabad, Mr Gilani said Pakistan would take note of the decision and fulfil what he described as its international obligations.Speaking after meeting top US official John Negroponte in Islamabad, Mr Gilani said Pakistan would take note of the decision and fulfil what he described as its international obligations.
Pakistan has been under intense pressure to act after the attacks. India's prime minister has said Pakistan needs to do "much more" to combat terrorism. Thursday's crackdown on Jamaat-ud-Dawa is the first time the organisation has been placed on the list of proscribed or banned organisations in Pakistan, says the BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Pakistan.
Lahore police chief Pervez Rathor said that Mr Saeed and four other officials of the charity would be held at home for three months. He did not say whether the men would be charged.
The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan says this is the first time the Jamaat-ud-Dawa has been placed on the list of proscribed or banned organisations in Pakistan.
Once a group has been placed on the list, action can be taken against it under the country's anti-terrorism law.Once a group has been placed on the list, action can be taken against it under the country's anti-terrorism law.
Under that law, all assets of the organisation can be seized and its offices and other places of business shut down, our correspondent says.Under that law, all assets of the organisation can be seized and its offices and other places of business shut down, our correspondent says.
Mr Saeed officially quit the leadership of Lashkar-e-Taiba in 2001 to become head of Jamaat-ud-Dawa.Mr Saeed officially quit the leadership of Lashkar-e-Taiba in 2001 to become head of Jamaat-ud-Dawa.
Also on Thursday, an Indian magistrate extended policy custody of the lone surviving suspected gunman from the Mumbai attacks, Mohammed Ajmal Amir Qasab, until 24 December.
Nine of the 10 gunmen died during the attacks on seven prominent Mumbai targets, including luxury hotels and a Jewish centre.
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