ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has placed banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed under house arrest.

The move comes just 48 hours before the foreign

secretaries of India and Pakistan are to scheduled meet on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

According to the Pakistani media, a police party has been deputed outside Saeed's residence, restricting his movement.

At about one o'clock in the night, a police party surrounded Saeed's residence in Lahore's Johar town.

Police say Saeed's

movement has been restricted owing to the security

reasons.

But sources indicate that Saeed was going to lead an Eid congregation at Ghaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The exact duration of the restrictions are not yet known.

On Friday, two cases were filed against Saeed in Faisalabad for

delivering anti-state speeches and collection of charity for jihaad. This action comes close on the heels of the US general assembly meet this week.

India has accused Pakistan of blocking the inquiry into the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and protecting Saeed. Only a week ago

Indian Home Minister P

Chidambaram had met Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the US, armed with evidence of Saeed's role in the Mumbai attacks.

In December 2008, Pakistani authorities banned the Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Saeed was put under house arrest, but in June this year a Pakistani court released him.