JeM Chief Masood Azhar not seen by his near ones after Feb 26; Pak says ‘he is alive’

"The Pakistan government has decided in principle to launch crackdown on the leadership of the JeM (Azhar)" source said.

Masood Azhar (Source: PTI)

New Delhi: A day after reports regarding India’s most wanted terrorist Jaish-e-Mohammad Chief Masood Azhar’s death floated on Sunday, Pakistan media denied the reports and claimed that he is very much alive. Amid Masood’s death rumours, ABP News has received information from its sources which have claimed that Pakistan’s secret agency ISI hid Masood Azhar in Bahavalpur on February 17-18, where an ICU was created for him. Masood is undergoing a treatment in Bhavalpur and as per sources, his nearest and dearest ones have also not seen him since February 26; on the other hand, Pakistan media is claiming that he is alive. Even secret agencies have started probing the truth behind reports of his death. So far they are aware that Azhar was admitted in Army hospital after undergoing a kidney failure. Pakistan may soon take 'action':         The Pakistan government in order to de-escalate the tensions with India, has decided to launch a crackdown on terror outfit Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar, according to a top government source while a media report said Sunday that Islamabad may even withdraw its opposition to the move to list him as global terrorist in the UN Security Council. "The government has decided in principle to launch crackdown on the leadership of the JeM (Azhar)," the source said. He said the action against JeM in the country is "expected any time soon". "In order to de-escalate the tensions between India and Pakistan, the Imran Khan government has planned action against the JeM," the source said. "This will be another significant move of the Imran Khan government to de-escalate tensions after handing over the captured Indian pilot to his country," he said. To a question about the Azhar's fate, the official source said he cannot confirm whether he would be put under house-arrest or taken into custody.