Karachi, Dec 04: Pakistan's central bank announced today it has frozen the bank accounts of only three of six newly-banned Islamic militant groups, almost three weeks after the government outlawed them and ordered the closure of their accounts. The state bank of Pakistan issued an order to commercial banks yesterday to immediately freeze the accounts of Khudamul Islam- formed by Massod Azhar after Jaishe-Mohammad, which is active in Jammu and Kashmir, was outlawed - Millat-e-Islamia Pakistan and Islami Tehreek Pakistan by December 12, spokesman Syed Wasimuddin said. The December 3 order means Khudamul Islam, Millat-e-Islamia Pakistan and Islami Tehreek have had more than a fortnight to withdraw their funds since they were outlawed on November 15. "We have advised all commercial banks to freeze the bank accounts of the (three) banned organisations," Wasimuddin told a news agency.

Musharraf had outlawed three other radical groups -- Jamaat-ul Furqan, Hizbul Tehreer and Jamaat-ul Ansar -- on November 20, but their accounts so far remain untouched.

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Bank officials said they have yet to be frozen. Islami Tehreek emerged out of the Shiite militant group Tehreek-i-Jafria which was banned last year.

Millat-e-Islami was the new name for the violent Sunni outfit Sipah-e-Sahaba whose leader Azam Tariq was assassinated in Islamabad last month.
Bureau Report