With a 10 million dollar bounty on his head, Pakistani Islamist militant leader, Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, taunts the United States during a news conference.
A day after a $10 million bounty was posted on his head, a Pakistani Islamist leader mocks the United States during a news conference in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.
Hafiz Mohammad Saeed is suspected of orchestrating the 2008 attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai that killed 166 people.
(SOUNDBITE) (URDU) HEAD OF JAMAAT-UD-DAWA (JUD) CHARITY, HAFIZ MOHAMMAD SAEED SAYING:
"This is an absurd statement. It is like America is short of information. I am astonished to know that America has no knowledge of my whereabouts, and bounty is placed on those people who are hidden in a cave or no one knows about them," he told reporters.
On Tuesday the United States posted a $10 million reward for help in his arrest.
(SOUNDBITE) (URDU) HEAD OF JAMAAT-UD-DAWA (JUD) CHARITY, HAFIZ MOHAMMAD SAEED SAYING:
"I am sitting in front of you. Today I am sitting with the leaders of Defense Council of Pakistan. Tomorrow, I will be in Lahore, and will also tell my schedule for day after tomorrow."
The reward comes at a time of heightened tension between the United States, and Pakistan and is likely to increase pressure on Pakistan to take action against the former Arabic scholar.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters
