Pakistan Finally Admits Dawood Ibrahim Is In Karachi; Bans 88 Such Terrorists Fearing FATF Slip Out

The development comes years after Pakistan kept denying that it shelters the underworld don blamed for the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts along with other terrorists.

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New Delhi: With an aim to avoid further demotion from the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) grey list, Pakistan has recently imposed sanctions on more than 88 terrorists associated to terror-groups, including Daesh, al-Qaida, and Taliban, Pakistani media reported. Amongst these terrorists is Dawood Ibrahim - one of India's most wanted men who, Pakistan finally admitted, lives in Karachi. The development comes years after Pakistan kept denying that it shelters the underworld don blamed for the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts along with other terrorists. As per the details, Prime Minister Imran Khan-led Pakistan government has also seized bank accounts and properties of these terrorists in the country. They have also being banned from traveling abroad. "The sanctions are being implemented by Pakistan in compliance with the relevant UNSC resolutions and we hope that other countries will also follow suit," Pakistan's Foreign office said in an official statement. As per reports, Khan had chaired a meeting, earlier in the day, for reviewing the political, economic situation, and progress of the legislations related to the FATF action plan. The Pakistani government issued notifications announcing sanctions on key figures of terror outfits such as 26/11 Mumbai attack mastermind and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Harfiz Saeed, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar, and underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. The neighbouring country also said that it had imposed tough financial sanctions on the terror groups and their leaders. Pakistan is in the grey list since June 2018 and the government had given a final warning in February to complete the remaining action points by June 2020. The FATF extended the June deadline to September due to the spread of coronavirus that disrupted the FATF plenary meetings. Earlier this month, Pakistan has submitted its initial draft report to the joint group of FATF, showing compliance of the remaining 13 points out of 27 action points pertaining to terror funding, ahead of the plenary meet scheduled for October, The News International reported on Tuesday. Until now only Iran and North Korea are blacklisted, which severely restricts a country's international borrowing capabilities. Pakistan is trying to get off the grey list. In order to improve its image in front of the world, Pakistan will have to demonstrate effectiveness of the sanctions including remedial actions to curb terrorist financing in the country. It will have to ensure improved effectiveness for terror financing of financial institutions with particular to banned outfits. WATCH | Pakistan Issues New List Of Terrorists, Dawood Ibrahim's Name Included