Exclusive: How jihadi sons of jihadi generals spearhead Hafiz Saeed's rallies

Abdullah Gul is the son of late Lt Gen Hamid Gul, the jihadi general who headed Pakistan's notorious Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Ijaz-ul-Haq is a former federal minister in Pakistan and the son of former military dictator late Gen Zia-ul-Haq, the man under whose regime Talibanisation of the Pakistan army started. The duo, Gul and Haq, are called the jihadi sons of jihadi fathers.

The two are on the radar of intelligence agencies allegedly for providing legitimacy and funds to terror organisations like the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen. The two 'jihadi sons of jihadi generals' are also seen as the key link between ISI and the terrorists handled by it.

Under international pressure, Pakistan was forced to put a curb on Hafiz Saeed's Jamaat-ud-Dawa rallies and speeches post 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. Abdullah Gul played a key role in legitimising Saeed's brand of terror by organising the rallies under the Difa-e-Pakistan Council (Defence of Pakistan) flag and ensuring media coverage. Interestingly, Gul is also seen as a front for Pakistan's nuclear black market don AQ Khan.

Sources have also told India Today that Gul and Haq have organised a series of under-the-radar meetings between top politicians, businessmen, media houses and these designated global terrorists - getting them both legitimacy and funds. Gul and Haq through their deep links with Pakistan ISI helped clear the administrative hurdles for Saeed's anti-India rants and rallies.

As designated global terrorist Hafiz Saeed embarked on his latest 'Kashmir Caravan' following the killing of terrorist Burhan Wani by security forces in Kokernag, these two sons of Pakistan's jihadi generals were in town consorting with the mastermind and main accused of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

Ijaz-ul-Haq is a former federal minister and a member of Pakistan's national assembly. He is also the president of PML (Zia). "He has fundamentalist views and has been playing a key role in the mainstreaming of terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Syed Salahuddin," sources said. He is also alleged to have organised meetings where funds were sought and raised for this so called jihad in Jammu and Kashmir and Afghanistan.

Their fathers - late Gen Zia ul Haq and late Lt Gen Hamid Gul - are Pakistan's most notorious jihadi generals - both godfathers of terror emanating out of Pakistan - both towards India and Afghanistan. Their sons have now donned the mantle, though minus the mufti. Abdullah Gul had public school education at Abbotabad (near Pakistan Military Academy) and has a Masters Degree in Business Administration from New York.

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There are pictures of Abdullah Gul who calls himself a youth motivator with terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Syed Salahuddin and also with Pakistan's National Security Advisor (NSA) Lt Gen Nasir Khan Janjua. In fact, Gul has addressed almost every rally organised for Hafiz Saeed to spew venom against India. Being from Army families, they have access to the all powerful Pakistan army. They are also the perfect smoke screen to give potential deniability to the ISI. Lt Gen Janjua has been a frequent visitor at several seminars and events organised by Abdullah Gul - displaying the proximity the terror fronts enjoy with the Pakistani state.

"They operate through the Difa-e-Pakistan Council, a group of about 40 fundamentalist and terrorist organisations across Pakistan aided by Pakistan's Deep State. They arrange massive rallies and organise funds for Taliban and Kashmiri separatists and terrorists," sources added. The DPC came into prominence when it rallied against the restoration of the NATO supply route to Afghanistan. "This group of Pakistani fundamentalists are against the US and India. They openly back LeT and Hizbul Mujahideen along with the Taliban and are seen as a threat to democracy even within Pakistan. They are considered to be operated by the Pakistan ISI and their massive rallies - whether in Lahore or Karachi, in Quetta or Rawalpindi are seen as a show of strength the fundamentalists enjoy in Pakistan," an official added.

Gul has also played a key role in arranging anti-India seminars in Pakistan including inviting key Khalistan terrorists and supporters. His organisation MEASAC Research Centre and Tehreek-e-Jawanan Pakistan (TJP) with branches in UAE and Saudi Arabia used to lobby against India. "There are restrictions on Hafiz Saeed's travel overseas but Gul and the organisation carry his message of jihad. After terrorist Burhan Wani's killing, Gul and Haq are again with Hafiz Saeed organising his anti-India rant.