‘When will you prosecute Hafiz Saeed’: Pakistani PM runs away after journalist questions him on terrorism at the United Nations

Pakistani PM Shahbaz Sharif refused to answer a question on terrorist Hafiz Saeed.
Pakistani PM Shahbaz Sharif (Image via AFP)

Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Thursday (September 24, 2026) evaded reporters’ questions about the UN-designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed. Sharif refused to answer questions about the terrorist twice and walked away at the UN headquarters in New York.

The exchange happened during Sharif’s visit to the United Nations headquarters in New York to attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). As he entered the UN headquarters, a reporter from news agency ANI confronted him and asked, “Prime Minister, when will you stop harbouring terrorists?” The Pakistani PM waved his hand towards the reporter and walked away without answering the question.

Later, when he was leaving the UN headquarters, a reporter again questioned him about the terrorist. “Prime Minister, when will you prosecute Hafiz Saeed?” the ANI reporter asked. Sharif looked at the reporter, waved his hand, and left the UN headquarters without addressing the question.

Notably, Hafiz Saeed is a UN-designated terrorist and is one of the founders of the Pakistan-based proscribed terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which planned and carried out multiple terrorist attacks in India. He is designated as a terrorist in India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

He is named as an accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case. His terrorist organisation was found to be involved by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the Pahalgam terror attack that happened on April 22, 2025. He was named in the chargesheet filed by the NIA in the case.

The agency named the LeT and its proxy, The Resistance Front (TRF), as responsible for planning, facilitating, and executing the ghastly terror attack in which 25 Hindus tourists were killed by terrorists in cold blood after verifying their religion.

Pakistan is known to harbour terrorists who have been carrying out terrorist activities in India. In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, Indian military forces launched Operation Sindoor and eliminated terrorist launch pads located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Written by OpIndia Staff
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