Was deputy to Lashkar chief Hafiz Saeed

Hafiz Abdul Salam Bhuttavi, one of the founding members of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), is “confirmed dead”, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) stated. Bhuttavi acted as the deputy to Lashkar chief Hafiz Saeed, both of whom were masterminds of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks that had left over 150 persons dead.

The date on which the narrative summary about Hafiz Bhuttavi became available on the UNSC website was March 14, 2012, whereas it was updated on December 19, 2023.

"Hafiz Bhuttavi was a founding member of Lashkar and deputy to LeT chief Hafiz Saeed. Bhuttavi served as the acting chief of Lashkar on at least two occasions when Saeed was detained. He participated in financing, planning, facilitating, preparing or perpetrating of terror activities. He is also responsible for running Lashkar's madrassas," according to the UNSC.

Bhuttavi was known to have issued fatwas authorising Lashkar operations. In mid-2002, he was in charge of establishing an LeT organisational base in Lahore, Pakistan, the council said. He was on March 14, 2023, listed as being associated with Al-Qaida for participating in or supporting the activities of Lashkar. Hafiz Saeed was detained days after the November 2008 Mumbai attacks and held until June 2009. "Following Saeed's arrest, Bhuttavi handled the group's day-to-day activities during this period and made independent decisions on behalf of the organisation. Saeed was also detained in May 2002," the UNSC stated.

On May 29, 2023, Bhuttavi died of cardiac arrest in Muridke, Punjab province, while serving his sentence in Pakistan jail.

Courtesy: The Tribune India:  13th  Jan , 2024