Pakistan bans charity linked to Mumbai attacks

Pakistan bans charity linked to Mumbai attacks Pakistan moved Thursday to dismantle an Islamic charity linked to militants suspected in the Mumbai attacks, arresting its leaders, closing its offices and freezing its assets. The ban on Jamat-ud-Dawa came a day after it was declared a front for terrorists by the United Nations, subject to U.N. sanctions including an asset freeze, travel ban and arms embargo. India says the Mumbai attackers were all Pakistani citizens and the assault was directed and planned in Pakistan. Islamabad is under intense international pressure to crack down on anyone connected to the attacks. "The government has decided to proscribe Jamat-ud-Dawa," said Information Minister Sherry Rehman. Lahore police chief Pervez Rathor said the group's head, Hafiz Mohammed Saeed and four other leaders had been placed under house arrest for three months. He did not say whether they would be charged with any crime. "We have taken action in response to orders from the federal government," he said. Earlier Thursday, authorities in the country's largest city, Karachi, said they had closed nine premises associated with the group. An Associated Press reporter outside one Jamat office in the city said it was locked up and deserted. It was unclear what was happening at the group's large headquarters close to the eastern city of Lahore. Pakistan has already arrested at least 20 people, including two extremists alleged by India to be key players in the Mumbai attacks, but India has made it clear it wants to see more action. The attacks on Mumbai, India's financial center, killed 171 people and sharply raised tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors, which have fought three wars over the last 60 years. U.S. officials say Jamat is a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba, a banned militant group accused by India of carrying out and planning the Mumbai assaults. The U.N. designation of Jamat and four of its leaders, including Saeed, came after Indian and U.S. pressure. The group, which has offices, schools and medical clinics around the country, has repeatedly said it has no links to Lashkar. Central Bank spokesman Syed Wasimuddin said all Pakistani banks had been ordered to freeze any of the group's assets. It is unclear how much money the group has under its control, but its Web site has details of a bank account to receive donations.

<p>Pakistan bans charity linked to Mumbai attacks</p> <p>Pakistan moved Thursday to dismantle an Islamic charity linked to militants suspected in the Mumbai attacks, arresting its leaders, closing its offices and freezing its assets.</p> <p>The ban on Jamat-ud-Dawa came a day after it was declared a front for terrorists by the United Nations, subject to U.N. sanctions including an asset freeze, travel ban and arms embargo.</p> <p>India says the Mumbai attackers were all Pakistani citizens and the assault was directed and planned in Pakistan. Islamabad is under intense international pressure to crack down on anyone connected to the attacks.</p> <p>"The government has decided to proscribe Jamat-ud-Dawa," said Information Minister Sherry Rehman.</p> <p>Lahore police chief Pervez Rathor said the group's head, Hafiz Mohammed Saeed and four other leaders had been placed under house arrest for three months. He did not say whether they would be charged with any crime.</p> <p>"We have taken action in response to orders from the federal government," he said.</p> <p>Earlier Thursday, authorities in the country's largest city, Karachi, said they had closed nine premises associated with the group. An Associated Press reporter outside one Jamat office in the city said it was locked up and deserted.</p> <p>It was unclear what was happening at the group's large headquarters close to the eastern city of Lahore.</p> <p>Pakistan has already arrested at least 20 people, including two extremists alleged by India to be key players in the Mumbai attacks, but India has made it clear it wants to see more action.</p> <p>The attacks on Mumbai, India's financial center, killed 171 people and sharply raised tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors, which have fought three wars over the last 60 years.</p> <p>U.S. officials say Jamat is a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba, a banned militant group accused by India of carrying out and planning the Mumbai assaults.</p> <p>The U.N. designation of Jamat and four of its leaders, including Saeed, came after Indian and U.S. pressure.</p> <p>The group, which has offices, schools and medical clinics around the country, has repeatedly said it has no links to Lashkar.</p> <p>Central Bank spokesman Syed Wasimuddin said all Pakistani banks had been ordered to freeze any of the group's assets. It is unclear how much money the group has under its control, but its Web site has details of a bank account to receive donations.</p>