Pakistani PM Shahbaz Sharif Avoids Questions on Hafiz Saeed at UNGA
Shahbaz Sharif Faces Press at UNGA
New York: During the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif encountered inquiries regarding Hafiz Saeed and terrorism. Journalists pressed him on actions against the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leader and the issue of harboring terrorists, but he chose not to respond and walked away.
Reports indicate that on September 24, as Shahbaz Sharif entered the UN headquarters in New York, a journalist asked when Pakistan would cease providing refuge to terrorists. The Prime Minister did not react to this question and proceeded inside without answering.
Later, as he exited the UN headquarters, the same journalist posed another question regarding when legal proceedings would commence against Hafiz Saeed. Again, the Pakistani Prime Minister offered no response and continued on his way.
Two Questions, No Answers
Notably, during this incident, Shahbaz Sharif was asked about terrorism-related issues on two separate occasions. Initially, the inquiry was about harboring terrorists, followed by a direct question regarding actions against Hafiz Saeed. On both occasions, the Prime Minister did not provide any public answers.
Who is Hafiz Saeed?
Hafiz Saeed is the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba and is designated as a terrorist in India. He has long been associated with the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) of India has named him as accused number 8 in its supplementary chargesheet related to the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terrorist attack, alleging his involvement in a major conspiracy. The final judicial conclusions regarding these allegations will be determined through the appropriate legal processes.
Incident at the UNGA
Shahbaz Sharif is attending the 81st session of the UNGA, during which this video of journalists questioning him surfaced, showing the Prime Minister walking away without answering both questions. This incident has reignited discussions about Hafiz Saeed and Pakistan's terrorism policies.
Currently, the most evident fact is that Shahbaz Sharif did not respond to either of the questions posed by journalists. The situation may become clearer if the Pakistani government provides a specific clarification regarding these inquiries.