ECP refuses to register Hafiz Saeed's Milli Muslim League

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday dismissed an application filed by Milli Muslim League (MML), a religio-political party linked with Hafiz Saeed’s Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) , seeking registration as a party.

The Commission announced its verdict which it had reserved earlier after hearing arguments of the applicant’s counsel.

Earlier, the MML filed an application with the ECP for its recognition as a political party. The Ministry of Interior vehemently opposed the party’s plea for allegedly having links with banned militant outfits.

The CEC had observed that the ministry’s reservations are of serious nature, which needed to be addressed before the party’s registration.

He pointed out that the reservations were about the party’s alleged links with banned militant outfits and that the party should approach the Ministry for clearance.

The United Nations Security Council had banned the JuD, declaring it a terrorist organisation in December 2008. The US State Department had also declared the party a foreign terrorist organisation.