Jaish chief Masood Azhar’s brother, son among 44 detained by Pakistan
Pakistan-based terror outfit group Jaish-e-Mohammed’s chief Masood Azhar's brother Mufti Abdul Rauf has been detained by Pakistan’s Interior Ministry, days after India sends the dossier to the neighbouring country over the role of Jaish in Pulwama attack. Mufti Abdul Raoof is among 44 members of banned groups that have been taken into preventive detention, Pakistan Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Afridi.
Mufti Abdur Rauf and Hammad Azhar are among those arrested during the crackdown, Shehryar Khan Afridi said at a press conference. The other banned outfit leaders also reportedly include close relatives of the JeM chief, along with dozens of other militant suspects.
According to reports, these 44 “under-observation members of proscribed organisations have been taken in preventive detention for investigation”. Afridi also said that a dossier shared by India with Pakistan last week also listed names of Mufti Abdur Rauf and Hammad Azhar. However, he said the action was not taken due to any pressure.
"It was decided to speed up action against all proscribed organisations. In compliance, 44 under-observation members of proscribed organisations, including Mufti Abdul Rauf and Hammad Azhar, have been taken in preventive detention for investigation," the Pakistan government said in a statement.
"These actions will continue, as per the decisions are taken in National Security Committee (NSC) while reviewing National Action Plan," the statement added.
Last month, In a suicide bomber attack on security personnel in Pulwama, over 40 CRPF soldiers were killed. Immediately, after the attack, Jaish-e-Mohammed had claimed responsibility for the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama.
First published: 5 March 2019, 18:20 IST