Pakistan won't allow UN sanctions monitoring team access to Hafiz Saeed: Reports

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions monitoring team won't be allowed a direct access to 26/11 Mumbai terror mastermind Hafiz Saeed or his entities, according to a report in a Pakistan media daily.

The UN Council is scheduled to visit Pakistan this week, January 26, for an assessment of Islamabad's compliance with the world body's sanctions regime.

The visit was is taking place amid increasing pressure on Pakistan from the US and India with respect to the inadequate implementation of the sanctions on JuD chief Hafiz Saeed. 

Saeed was put under sanctions by the UN in December 2008, a month after the Mumbai terror attack. 

The globally designated terrorist, who was released from house arrest last year in November, even urged the UN after his release asking for his name be removed from their list of sanctioned terrorists.

However, it did not happen. 

The UN team will hold meetings with Pakistani officials on the list of the sanctioned outfits including JuD, Al-Qaeda, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation, Lashkar-e-Taiba and other organisations and individuals.

Expressing concern, former Pakistan Diplomat Husain Haqqani condemned the decision, saying it would be in Pakistan's interest to give complete access to Saaed and its entities.  

Last week, Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said there's no case against Saeed, which is why he can't be prosecuted.