Hafiz Saeed: Profile, Family, Wife and Son

Hafiz Saeed: Biographical Account, Personal Profile, Family Background, Relationship Status, Recent News, and Controversies

Biographical Account:

Hafiz Muhammad Saeed was born on June 5, 1950, in Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan, into a Punjabi Muslim family from the Gujjar community. His family migrated from Ambala and Hisar in East Punjab (now Haryana, India) to Pakistan during the partition of India in 1947. Saeed's father, Maulana Kamal-ud-Din, was a religious scholar, landlord, and farmer, which influenced Saeed's early life significantly.

Saeed pursued his education in Pakistan and later in Saudi Arabia, where he was exposed to the Wahhabi strain of Islam, significantly shaping his ideological beliefs. In the mid-1980s, he co-founded the Markaz-ud-Dawa-wal-Irshad (MDI), which evolved into Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a militant group aimed at promoting the Ahl-e-Hadith movement and later became involved in the Afghan War against Soviet forces.

Personal Profile:

• Role in Militant Organizations: Saeed is best known as the co-founder of LeT and the chief or amir of Jama'at-ud-Da'wah (JuD), which operates under the guise of being a humanitarian organization but is widely recognized as a front for LeT activities. LeT has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United Nations, the United States, and India among others.
• Ideology: He advocates for a strict interpretation of Islam, focusing on jihad and the establishment of Islamic governance. His speeches often target youths in regions like Jammu and Kashmir, encouraging them to fight against Indian control.
• Legal Status: Saeed has faced multiple arrests and detentions in Pakistan, primarily under charges of terrorism financing. In 2020, he was convicted by a Pakistani anti-terrorism court for terrorism financing, receiving a cumulative sentence of 32 years, though this was expected to run concurrently, potentially limiting his actual time served.

Family Background:

• Siblings: Saeed has brothers named Hafiz Hamid, Hafiz Mastodon, and Hafiz Hannan, all involved in Islamic activism, with some having run Islamic centers in the U.S. before being deported for visa issues.
• Ancestral Claims: There have been claims by Saeed that 36 family members were killed during the partition migration, though these claims lack concrete proof and are often seen as attempts to garner sympathy or support.

Relationship Status:

• Married: Saeed is married to Maimoona Saeed, who maintains a very low profile. She notably came into the public eye when she sought judicial intervention for her husband's release from detention. Controversial reports have suggested a closer familial relationship than publicly acknowledged, but these claims are speculative and not substantiated by reputable sources.

Recent News and Controversies:

• Legal Actions and Detentions: Saeed's legal battles continue with his conviction in terrorism financing cases, but his influence remains significant, especially within certain religious circles in Pakistan.
• Political Activities: Despite legal restrictions, Saeed has been linked to political activities through the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML), which fielded candidates in recent elections, including his son, Talha Saeed, who contested from Lahore but was not successful.
• International Pressure: The U.S. has placed a $10 million bounty on Saeed for his role in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and India has repeatedly called for his extradition, though no formal extradition treaty exists between the two nations.
• Health Speculations: There have been rumors about Saeed being in ICU due to a mysterious illness, fueling various conspiracy theories, though these are not substantiated by official reports.
• Controversies: Saeed's association with terrorism and particularly his role in the Mumbai attacks have made him a figure of intense scrutiny. His organization's activities, often cloaked as charity, have been criticized as a means to radicalize and finance terrorism. His public denials of direct involvement in LeT and JuD activities have been met with skepticism both domestically and internationally.

In summary, Hafiz Saeed's life is marked by his role as a militant leader, his legal troubles, and his influence in Pakistan's political and religious spheres, making him a central figure in discussions about terrorism, radicalization, and international relations in South Asia.