Lahore: Hafiz Abdu Rahman Makki, the deputy chief of the banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and the brother-in-law of Hafiz Saeed, the alleged mastermind behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks, passed away in Lahore on Friday due to a heart attack. He was 70 years old.
As reported by the officials of Jamaat-ud-Dawa, Makki was battling health issues due to high diabetes for a long time and was admitted to a private hospital in Lahore for care before his death. “Makki suffered a cardiac arrest early this morning, and he breathed his last in the hospital,” a JuD official confirmed to PTI.
Makki had been keeping a low profile after being convicted for terror financing in 2020 when an anti-terrorism court sentenced him to six months in prison. In January 2023, he was mentioned in a UN resolution as a global terrorist, which affected him with an assets freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo.
The Pakistan Mutahida Muslim League (PMML) released an official statement calling Makki a devoted supporter of Pakistan’s ideology. His death has revived conversations about his controversial role within extremist organisations and his affiliations to terrorist activities.
Makki was notorious for his participation in various militant missions and was accused of persuading and teaching young people to join Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the group that was responsible for the Mumbai attacks in November 2008, killing more than 160 people. His leadership role in JuD encompassed the organisation of financial assistance and acts planning mainly directed towards India.
Over the past few years, he experienced a growing problem with external authorities and was under house arrest prior to his passing. The conditions of his life and the things he did continue to provoke interest while Pakistan is battling to handle its complicated ties with militias.