Masood Azhar’s Brother, 44 Others Linked to Banned Outfits Detained, Claims Pakistan Minister

Meanwhile, Pakistani interior ministry secretary said that they will be released if there will be no evidence against them.

New Delhi: Amid mounting pressure from the global community to rein in the terror groups operating on its soil and curb their financing, Pakistan on Tuesday claimed to have arrested 44 members of banned outfits, including a brother of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, Abdul Rauf Asghar.

While addressing a press conference today, Pakistan Interior Minister Shaharyar Afridi said that a dossier shared by India with Pakistan last week also contained names of Mufti Abdur Rauf and Hammad Azhar. He, however, said the action was not taken due to any pressure.

According to a report of leading daily, the order for their detention was reportedly issued today. (Also Read:
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“In order to implement National Action Plan (NAP), a high level meeting was held in the Ministry of Interior on 4th March 2019 which was attended by all provincial governments. It was decided to speed up action against all proscribed organisations. In compliance, 44 under-observation members of proscribed organisations, including Mufti Abdul Raoof and Hamad Azhar, have been taken in preventive detention for investigation,” the order stated.

It added,”These actions will continue as per the decisions taken in National Security Committee (NSC), while reviewing National Action Plan.”

The development comes a day after Pakistan promulgated a law to streamline the procedure for the implementation of the UN sanctions against individuals and organisations. Interpreting the order, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said it means that the government has taken over the control of assets and properties of all banned outfits operating in the country.

(With inputs from agencies)