After UN’s Terrorist Designation, Masood Azhar Faces Funds Freeze By Pakistani Government

The Pakistan government's foreign ministry issued a 'statutory regulatory order' (SRO) in Thursday (2 May 2019) which directed authorities to freeze Masood Azhar's funds and financial assets and enforce a travel ban and arms embargo against him, reports Hindustan Times.

The order from the foreign ministry was issued after the United Nations's (UN) Islamic State and Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee listed Azhar as a globally recognised terrorist on Wednesday (1 May 2019). Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said Pakistan would “immediately enforce the sanctions” on Azhar.

Meanwhile, the Finance Minister of India, Arun Jaitley apprised the media that India will also be pushing for the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) to put Pakistan on a 'black list' which would create the possibility of even harsher sanctions. “We want Pakistan downgraded on the FATF list,” he said, adding India will make its request at the body’s next meeting.

In February 2019, the FATF had said after a review that Pakistan “does not demonstrate a proper understanding” of terror financing risks posed by groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammad and urged it to meet its targets under an action plan before another review which is due in June 2019.

Also Read: Not Just Masood Azhar: India To Seek Pakistan’s Blacklisting At FATF Meeting In Mid-May, Says Jaitley