Homeland Security

Crackdown against banned groups underway in Pakistan

IRNA

Islamabad, Nov 21, IRNA -- Following the Thursday`s ban on three more 
religious outfits, Pakistani authorities have started crackdown 
against their leaders, sealing their offices and confiscating printed 
material. 
Under Anti-Terrorism Act, Jamiat-ul Ansar, Hizb-ul Tehrir and 
Jamaat-ul Furqan had been banned. Earlier, three organisations were 
put under the ban on Saturday. 
In his meeting with senior newsmen on Thursday, President General 
Pervez Musharraf said religious extremism and sectarianism could 
destroy Pakistan, as these posed a danger to the country. 
Quoting a government official, newspaper Dawn reported in its 
Friday issue that there was no intention to ban more religious 
organisations in near future. 
The newspaper said that Jamaat-ul Furqan was a sister organisation
of the banned Jaish-i-Mohammad and Jamiat-ul Ansar was a reincarnation
of Harkatul Mujahideen banned last year. 
The groups banned on November 15 were Millat-i Islamia, Islami 
Tehrik Pakistan and Khuddam-ul Islam. 
TSH/AA/210 
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