Pakistan has approached the UN security council committeewith a request to let Lashkar-e-Taiba emir Hafiz Saeed to withdraw money forwhat Islamabad described as “necessary basic living expenses”.

Saeed, chief of UN-designated terrorist organisation Jammat--ud-Dawawas banned in December 2008 by the United Nations Security Council after the26/11 Mumbai attacks in which 166 people were killed. Four years later, theUnited States had announced a US $ 10 million bounty for his arrest.Hafiz Saeedhad tried to get off the UN list earlier this year but the attempt was firmlyblocked.

In a request to the UNSC panel overseeing enforcement ofsanctions against terrorists such as the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks plotter,Pakistan said one of the bank accounts frozen on UNSC’s orders was one wherehis pension - Saeed was once a college professor before he made terror hisfull-time business - was deposited by the Pakistan government.

 “His bank account wasblocked by the Government of Pakistan under compliance with UNSC resolution1267, requesting an asset freeze exemption to access frozen funds in the amountof Rs 1.5 lakh (USD 1000 or INR 68,000) to cover the necessary basic livingexpenses for himself and his family,” Pakistan’s request to the UNSC panelsaid.

Indian officials say Pakistan’s hard push to let the globalterrorist access a mere Rs 1.5 lakh from his bank accounts is important forthree reasons.

Firstly, it highlights the nexus between Islamabad andjihadists in the country who are backed by the official machinery. Second, itconfirms India’s understanding and information about Hafiz Saeed’s clout in thePakistani security establishment. And thirdly, people familiar with thedevelopments say, it is a “hugely symbolic move” that is seen to support HafizSaeed’s claims that he was not the terrorist mastermind that Indian agenciesaccuse him to be but just another ‘retired college professor’ with a family tosupport.

The Pakistan request identified 69-year-old Hafiz Saeed’sfamily, dependent on him, as wife Iffat Idrees, 42, two sons Ismael, 10, andShoaib, 8, and daughter Sumaiyyah, 6.

Of the Rs 1.5 lakh requested to be released for Hafiz Saeed,Pakistan said he should be allowed to withdraw Rs 50,000 from the bank accountwhere he receives his pension and another Rs 1 lakh as “support from son HafizTalha Saeed”.