Pakistan authorities close charity

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Source: CCTV.com | 12-12-2008 09:22

Pakistan has ordered the closing of all offices of a charity linked to the militant group suspected in the Mumbai attacks.

The move came after the UN declared the Jemaat-u-Dawa a front for a "terrorist group." Meanwhile, India is asking Pakistan to hand over 40 suspects.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister says the actions were taken to comply with a UN Security Council decision.(CCTV.com)

The leader of Jemaat-ud-Dawa has been placed under house arrest in Lahore.

Police have also shut down the charity's offices in Karachi and Hyderabad.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister says the actions were taken to comply with a UN Security Council decision.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Pakistan Foreign Minister, said, "It is obligatory for all states to comply with international obligations arising from Security Council decisions. Accordingly, the government of Pakistan has initiated the process to comply with the listing of Jamaat-ud-Dawa and certain other trusts as well as individuals by the Sanctions Committee."

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and President Asif Ali Zardari expressed the same opinion when meeting with US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte in Islamabad.

However, the head of Jamaat-ud-Dawa, Hafiz Mohammed Saeed, says the move is an attempt to target religious groups.

Pakistan has arrested at least 20 terrorist suspects, but India has made it clear it wants to see more actions. They include the handover of 40 suspects in the Mumbai attacks, and those who had committed other crimes against India in the past.

The attacks on India's financial center killed 171 people and dramatically tensed up relations between the two neighbors.

On Wednesday, a UN Security Council panel declared Jamaat-ud-Dawa a front for a "terrorist group." As such, it's subject to UN sanctions, including asset freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei