Pakistan offers ₹7 crore bounty on Masood Azhar ahead of FATF review: Terrorist linked to Pathankot, Pulwama attacks | Today’s news
Pakistan has increased the reward announced for Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, who is among the top perpetrators of terrorist acts in India, to 7 million rupees, news agency ANI reported. The reward for information leading to his arrest has been increased from PKR 20 million to PKR 70 million.
Despite being designated as an international terrorist by the UN Security Council, Masood Azhar remains among the key terrorist figures wanted in India. His name has been associated with several major attacks, from the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and the Pulwama bombing to the Red Fort blast in Delhi. Over the years, he has emerged as a prominent figure in the region’s terror network, with Indian authorities allegedly supporting Pakistan’s ISI intelligence agency.
The announcement comes weeks ahead of a Financial Action Task Force (FATF) plenary session scheduled for October, as the Islamic nation seeks to avoid being placed on the FATF gray list again. The FATF is a global body responsible for setting standards to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.
For years, Islamabad has claimed that Azhar has not been in Pakistan since 2021 and fled to Afghanistan. Azhar, 58, was listed in the FIA red book among the most wanted terrorists.
He was identified as the head of Jaish-e-Mohammad in the list with an entry date of December 31, 2021, according to news agency PTI.
The list ranks Azhar at serial number 1480 and contains 1804 names of most wanted terrorists. The record describes Azhar as healthy and strongly built and of normal medium height.
Details show he is wanted in three cases: FIR-17/20 dated December 3, 2020, under sections 11-EE(4), 11-F(2), 11-W and 11-OOO of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, registered at the Counter Terrorism Department police station in Gujranwala; FIR-8/20 dated March 9, 2020, under Section 11-EE(4) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, registered at CTD Police Station, Multan; and FIR-4/21 dated March 29, 2021, under Sections 11-H(3), 11-I, 11-J(2) and 11-N of the Anti-Terrorism Act, registered at CTD Police Station, Lahore.
“The Federal/Provincial Government of Pakistan is offering a reward of up to Rs.7,00,000/- for information leading directly to the capture or conviction of Maulana Masood Azhar Maulana S/o Khuda Baksh,” the note said.
Who are the terrorists named in the FIA red book?
In its latest red book, Pakistan’s FIA has named 19 terrorists linked to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. The individuals are accused of supporting the attackers by providing funds, providing logistics and helping organize the ships used during the operation.
The revised list includes 11 Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists who allegedly helped the attackers secure a sea route in Al-Hussaini and Al-Fauz boats, ANI reported.
The 11 men are Muhammad Amjad Khan of Multan, Shahid Gafoor of Bahawalpur, Mohammad Usman of Sahiwal, Ateeq-ur-Rehman of Lahore, Riaz Ahmad of Hafizabad, Muhammad Mushtaq of Gujranwala, Muhammad Naeem of Gujranwala, Muhammad Naeem of Dera Karachiko Khan, Abdul Karachiko Khan. Multan, Muhammad Usman of Lodhran and Shakeel Ahmed of Rahim Yar Khan.