LeT founder, deputy of 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed, confirmed dead: UN

Hafiz Abdul Salam Bhuttavi, the deputy of Hafiz Saeed and the founding member of Lashkar-e-Taiba, has died due to cardiact arrest.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) confirmed his demise on Thursday, saying that Bhuttavi died in Pakistan's Punjab jail on May 29 last year while serving his sentence.

Bhuttavi was one of the key conspirators of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks that left more than 250 people dead.
"Hafiz Abdul Salam Bhuttavi was a founding member of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) and deputy to LeT emir Hafiz Muhammad Saeed. Bhuttavi served as the acting emir of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba/Jamaat-ud-Dawa (LeT/JuD) on at least two occasions when Saeed was detained," the UNSC said.

Moreover, he is also responsible for LeT/JuD's madrassah (religious school) network.

He took charge of the LeT after Saeed was detianed for his role in the Mumbai terror assault.

"Bhuttavi was also LeT/JuD's preeminent scholar, had instructed its leaders and members, and issued fatwas authorizing LeT/JuD operations. Bhuttavi helped prepare the operatives for the November 2008 terrorist assault in Mumbai, India, by delivering lectures on the merits of martyrdom operations. The Mumbai attacks killed over 150 people and injured many more. Bhuttavi is responsible for LeT/JuD's madrassah (religious school) network," the UNSC said in a statement.

Following Saeed's arrest, "Bhuttavi handled the group's day-to-day functions during this period and made independent decisions on behalf of the organisation. Saeed was also detained in May 2002," the UNSC stated.

Saeed is in Pakistan government's custody and serving a 78-year imprisonment sentence.