For the first time in years, Mumbai attack mastermind and Jammat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed was not allowed by the government on Wednesday to lead Eid-ul-Fitr prayers at his favourite venue Qaddafi Stadium here, an official said.

“JuD chief Saeed wanted to lead the Eid prayers at the Qaddafi Stadium but he was conveyed by an official of the Punjab government a day before that he could not do so. In case he goes ahead with his plan the government may arrest him,” the official privy to the development .

He said Saeed having no other option “followed the government direction” and dropped the idea of leading the prayers at the Qaddafi Stadium.

Saeed had been leading the prayers on both Eid-ul Fitr and Eid-ul Azha at the Qaddafi Stadium for last many years without any hindrance. Rather the government used to provide him foolproof security.

In the past Saeed not only led the prayers but also propagated his views especially on Kashmir before a large gathering of people assembled on such religious festivals.

In February, Paris-based international terror financing watchdog FATF decided to continue the ‘grey’ listing of Pakistan for its failure to stop funding of terrorist groups such as the Jaish-e-Mohammed, the Lashkar-e-Taiba and the JuD.

In March, Saeed was barred by the government from delivering weekly Friday sermon at Jamia Masjid Qadsia, the JuD headquarters in Lahore.

Saeed was never stopped from delivering Friday sermons even during the years when Masjid Qadsia’s control was under the Punjab government.