Islamabad (Pakistan): In a major development from Pakistan, reports are emerging that Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief and Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed was killed in an attack by unidentified gunmen in Punjab province's Jhelum district. While there has been no official confirmation from Pakistani authorities, several social media accounts claim that Saeed succumbed to injuries sustained in the attack, while others claim he is alive.

According to initial reports, gunmen targeted a senior leader of Jamaat-ud-Dawa on Saturday night, opening fire on his vehicle while he was traveling through the Jhelum area. Initially, it was reported that Saeed’s nephew and close aide, Nadeem, was killed in the attack, while Saeed himself was critically injured. Later, unverified sources suggested that he could not survive his injuries.

PTI Leader Claims Saeed Is Alive

Social media platforms in Pakistan were flooded with claims about Hafiz Saeed’s death, sparking speculation and confusion. Samad Yaqub, a leader from the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, claimed in a post that he spoke to Saeed’s son, Talha Saeed, who insisted that his father was safe, reported Navbharat Times. However, Yaqub cast doubt on Talha’s tone, suggesting that the situation might be more serious than publicly admitted.

In the wake of the attack, security has been tightened across Jhelum, particularly near hospitals, where movement is being heavily monitored. Pakistani police and intelligence agencies are reportedly on high alert, restricting access to certain areas.

There is still uncertainty regarding the identity of the slain JuD leader. Some reports claim the victim was Zafar Iqbal, another senior JuD figure, while others suggest it was Faizal Nadeem alias Abu Qatal, Saeed’s nephew and a key Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative.

Who Is Hafiz Saeed?

Hafiz Saeed, a UN-designated terrorist, has long been India’s most wanted fugitive for his role in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, which claimed 166 lives. Despite international pressure, he had continued to operate freely in Pakistan, running JuD and its affiliate Lashkar-e-Taiba, which has been responsible for numerous attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.

If Hafiz Saeed’s death is confirmed, it would mark a remarkable turning point in the fight against cross-border terrorism, but Pakistani authorities have yet to issue an official statement. Meanwhile, speculation continues to grow as the mystery surrounding the attack deepens.