Pakistan warns against making donations to 72 groups on 'watch list'

Islamabad : Pakistan has issued a list of 72 groups it has put on 'watch list', including the Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD). The authorities have also issued warning that makes donation to any of these groups a crime.

Hafiz Saeed’s JuD and Falah-e-Insaniyat (FIF), declared fronts for the Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group, are not banned but are included in the interior ministry’s watch list.

An official statement released by the interior ministry said that any financial donation made towards these 72 organisations would be considered as crime.

“Hence, people should avoid giving them charity, and should instead report any suspicious activities on 1717,” the statement said, referring to the number for a helpline for terror-related complaints established by the National Counter-Terrorism Authority (NACTA).

It said that according to Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997 of Pakistan and under UN Security Council act of 1948 it was a crime to provide funding to those groups which have been banned or are on the watchlist.

Those giving funds to such individuals or groups may face “five to 10 years in jail or up to Rs 10 million fine or both”, it said.