LeT founder Hafiz Saeed's presence in Pak rally concerns US

The US has expressed its concern over the presence of terrorist leaders, including LeT founder Hafiz Saeed who have been slapped sanctions by the United Nations, at a public rally in Pakistan early this week.

In a statement, the US State Department reminded Pakistan of its obligation to uphold and implement the UN Security Council resolution in this regard.

Notably, Pakistan this January joined the UN Security Council as its non-permanent member for a two year term.

"The US government is concerned about the recent public appearances of Jamaat-ud-Dawa leader Hafiz Saeed, including at a recent rally in Karachi," the State Department said.

Lashkar-e-Toiba and its front group Jamaat-ud-Dawa are internationally sanctioned because of their associations with al Qaeda, the State Department said.

"We have and continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to uphold its obligations in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1267/1989," it said.

"That resolution calls for all countries to freeze assets of sanctioned groups, prevent the transfer of arms to them, and prevent sanctioned individuals from entering or transiting their territories," it added.

26/11 attack: NIA chargesheets David Headley and 8 others

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday chargesheeted David Headley and eight others for plotting terror attacks in India.

The chargesheet came days after the government gave its go ahead to book nine people including Pakistani-American terrorist David Headley, LeT founder Hafiz Saeed and two ISI officers for plotting terror attacks in India including 26/11 Mumbai strikes.

Besides Headley and Saeed, the Home Ministry had given sanction to NIA to prosecute 26/11 attacks mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, Headley's accomplice and Pakistani-Canadian Tahawwur Rana and al-Qaeda operative Illyas Kashmiri.

Sajid Malik, handler of Headley, and Abdul Rehman Hashmi have also been named in the chargesheet besides two officers Major Iqbal and Major Samir Ali, believed to be working for Pakistan's snooping agency, the ISI.

The sanction of prosecution against the nine was accorded after a legal opinion of the Law Ministry was obtained.

They have been named in the chargesheet for waging war against the country under the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The NIA had registered a case against 50-year-old Headley and Rana on November 12, 2009 and later on added other names after investigation by central security agencies showed a large set of people involved in terror activities against the country.

Both Headley and Rana are at present in custody of US authorities and NIA has only got a limited access to Headley, who had entered into plea bargain with US authorities to escape harsh sentence.