The recent crackdown on Jamaatud Daawa by the federal government and conflicting statements from government officials have some what confused the people about the legal basis of this crackdown. The government should have explained to the public the international legal compulsions that have prompted the present action. It will be useful to explain the said background. The United Nations Security Council in the last ten years or so has passed several resolutions and each one of them has been passed under Chapter VI of the UN Charter. These resolutions are infact "mini conventions" and are binding on the member states including Pakistan. These resolutions can be divided subject wise into 3 categories; resolutions addressing the issue of terrorism, resolutions addressing Al-Qaeda and Taliban issues and resolutions relating to non-proliferation. Under each set of these resolutions Security Council has established monitoring committees. Thus we have an Al-Qaeda/Taliban Sanctions Committee which was primarily established under UNSCR 1267(1999). Then there is a Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC) established pursuant to UNSC Resolution 1373(2001) and lastly a non-proliferation committee established under UNSC 1540. It must be clarified that the CTC and the non-proliferation Committee do not maintain any list. This is because there is no consensus on the definition of a terrorist and it is politically not possible to prepare a list of global terrorists with consensus. Whereas, Osama Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda are recognised as terrorist entities through the UNSC Resolutions themselves. Hence, the Al-Qaeda/Taliban Sanctions Committee maintains a list of such persons/entities/organisations that are "associated with" Al-Qaeda/Taliban and/or Osama Bin Laden. The name of Jamaatud Daawa and Hafiz Saeed has been put on this particular list also known as the "Consolidated List". The legal qualification to be on the list is 'association' with Taliban and/or Al-Qaeda which means some evidence apparently has been produced before the Al-Qaeda/Taliban Sanctions Committee of Jamaatud Daawa being an associate of Al-Qaeda/Taliban. Jamaat-ud-Daawa, apparently, denies this link. If Jamaatud Daawa and Hafiz Muhammad Saeed can establish that they have no links with Al-Qaedaand/or Taliban and/or Osama then their names can be de-listed from the "Consolidated List". It should also be clarified that the Mumbai attacks have little to do with the listing of the names of Jamaatud Daawa and Hafiz Muhammad Saeed at least in a legal sense. Because as mentioned above, every terrorist may not be an associate of Osama or Al-Qaeda and therefore not legally eligible for the listing on the Consolidated List by the Committee. In the Mumbai investigation things have not cleared so far. Inquires are going on and law enforcement entities are still working. It is not possible to point out with absolute certainty the culprits of Mumbai incident. Therefore, the Mumbai incident per say does not form the basis of listing an entity or individual who are yet to be established as being associated with the Mumbai attacks. The question is can Jamaatud Daawaa and Hafiz Muhammad Saeed seek their de-listing? Yes they can. There is a detailed procedure under UNSC Resolutions along with proper de-listing guidelines. The said procedures can be followed and representation/appeal can be addressed to the United Nations where in Jamaatud Daawa and Hafiz Muhammad Saeed can state that they have no link with Al-Qaeda or the Taliban etc. Once the names have been put on the Consolidated List the government of Pakistan was legally compelled to take measures against Jamaatud Daawa and Hafiz Saeed. UNSC Resolutions 1617 and 1822 direct the states to seize the accounts and properties, restrict movement of the person listed and ensure an arm's embargo along with a restriction on other activities. The countrywide crackdown on Jamaatud Daawa is in compliance with Pakistan's legal obligation under UNSC resolutions and the government in real terms has no choice. If the government relents in taking law enforcement action as prescribed in the UNSC Resolutions, it shall be viewed as a non-compliance state with much more serious consequences for the state of Pakistan as a whole. It must be pointed out that Pakistani policymakers have long being negligent of the serious implications of UNSC Resolutions and have totally been indifferent to a constant UN monitoring of Pakistan through various committees and sub-committees and have also failed to discipline forces and entities within Pakistan in accordance with changing international rules. One should also point out that even the 'Madaris' and religious organisations all over the country have been negligent about the impact of UNSC Resolutions that directly influence their conduct. These entities have been dismissive of international law and the religious scholars have remained focused on religious education instead of taking into account the fast changing international rules. Because of this collective negligence people in Pakistan feel the shock of this sudden development. Some attribute it to Indian conspiracy, some to US influence and that may well be the case but the political influences are rooted through well disclosed legal instruments which then create binding obligations and we have no choice but to comply.