In looking for a way out of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, the Imran Khan-led government in Pakistan has now imposed severe financial sanctions on 88 banned terrorist outfits and their leaders, including Hafiz Saeed Ahmad of Jamaat-ud-Dawa, Mohammad Masood Azhar of the JeM, Dawood Ibrahim, and others. The Pakistan government has also ordered the seizure of all properties and freezing of all bank accounts of global terrorist Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, following new restrictions issued by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Islamabad issued two notifications on August 18 announcing sanctions on key figures of terror outfits and the seizure of all movable and immovable properties of these outfits and individuals, and freezing of their bank accounts. It had also asked Islamabad to implement a plan of action by the end of 2019, but the deadline was extended later due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Failing to comply with the FATF directive by October will likely result in Pakistan being moved to the 'Black List' along with North Korea and Iran.

Source: dna August 22, 2020 14:05 UTC