Saeed was arrested after the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which killed 166 people.
Lashkar-e-Taiba was widely suspected of masterminding the commando raids but
Saeed was released in 2009 on appeal, and has since been able to travel
freely around Pakistan.
His arrest – along with other militant leaders – is regularly demanded by
India.
In recent weeks he has returned to prominence as a leader of the Defence of
Pakistan Council, a coalition of hard-line nationalists intent on ending
drone strikes and the country’s alliance with the US.
The bounty puts Pakistan in an awkward position, which fears a terrorist
backlash if it rounds up known militant figures.
Abdul Basit, a government spokesman, said Islamabad would rather be presented
with evidence about Hafiz Saeed than have a public discussion on the matter.
“In a democratic country like Pakistan, where judiciary is independent,
evidence against anyone must withstand judicial scrutiny,” he said.
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