Ex-Pak Minister Sheikh Rasheed Praises Hafiz Saeed, Issues Threats Against India
Former Pakistan interior minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed has stirred controversy by sharing a stage with leaders of the banned terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and praising its chief Hafiz Saeed. In a video, Rasheed expressed his loyalty to Saeed, stating, "I am a servant of Hafiz Saeed," and declared his support for the group.
- World News
- 3 min read
New Delhi: Former Pakistan interior minister and Imran Khan ally Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed has triggered controversy after appearing on stage alongside senior Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) figures, praising the banned terror outfit’s chief Hafiz Saeed and making inflammatory threats against India.
A video from the event shows Rasheed sharing the stage with Khalid Masood Sandhu, identified as a senior LeT commander and president of the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML), and Qari Muhammad Yaqoob Sheikh, a member of the outfit’s central advisory committee.
Addressing the gathering, Rasheed openly expressed his allegiance to Hafiz Saeed. “Main Hafiz sahab ka ghulam hu,” he said, meaning, “I am a servant/slave of Hafiz Saeed.” He also declared his support for Saeed, saying, “We are with Pakistan, with Hafiz Saeed.”
Rasheed further claimed that he had faced action in the United States after Hafiz Saeed’s phone number was allegedly found on his phone. According to his account, the discovery resulted in him being expelled from the US.
The former minister then turned his remarks towards India, issuing a series of aggressive and inflammatory statements. He claimed that Allah would destroy India if the country “even looks towards Pakistan.”
He went on to say, “No birds will chirp in India, nor will bells ring in a temple,” while asserting that nothing would happen in India that went against Pakistan.
The remarks are particularly significant given the presence of LeT figures alongside Rasheed at the public event. Hafiz Saeed is the co-founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba and has been designated a terrorist by the United Nations and several countries over his links to militancy and terrorism. He has also been convicted in Pakistan in terror-financing cases.
Rasheed, a prominent Pakistani politician and founder of the Awami Muslim League, served as Pakistan’s interior minister in Imran Khan’s government from 2020 to 2022.
His latest remarks, including his public praise for Saeed and threats against India, have drawn attention to the continued presence of individuals associated with the banned terror outfit in Pakistan’s political and public sphere.
The comments come amid longstanding tensions between India and Pakistan and renewed scrutiny of statements by Pakistani political figures regarding India and terror groups operating from Pakistani soil.
Published By : Melvin Narayan
Published On: 13 August 2026 at 09:05 IST