Despite Pakistan govt's opposition, Hafiz Saeed opens MML office in Lahore

Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed has opened the first office of the Milli Muslim League (MML), days after the Pakistan government said the group would breed violence and extremism in politics while opposing a plea seeking its registration as a political party.

Saeed has confirmed that his organisation Jammat-ud-Dawah (JuD) would contest the 2018 general elections under the banner of the MML.

The MML is the offshoot of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and JuD, according to the government.

The MML had challenged the Election Commission's order in October that had declined its registration as a political party.

Saeed yesterday inaugurated the office of Lahore's National Assembly-120 constituency from where a JuD member had contested by-polls in September.

Despite refusal from the interior ministry to register the MML as a political party, Saeed pressed ahead with his plans to take the political plunge.

The Pakistan government has requested a court in Islamabad not to consider Saeed-backed MML's plea seeking its registration as a political party, saying the group would breed violence and extremism in politics.

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