Pakistan nets 221 terror financiers, seizes over Rs1 billion

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security agencies have seized over Rs1 billion from 221 suspects accused of financing extremist groups such as Islamic State, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, Al Qaeda and other banned outfits, according to official documents available with Hum Investigation Team (HIT).

The documents, which cover the past five years, show that 1,732 suspected terrorists have been arrested in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where many militant groups operate.

Of these, 900 were charged with providing financial support to banned outfits.

The documents also show that 194 people have been convicted and sentenced for their involvement in funding terrorism, while 107 cases are still pending in the courts. Another 233 suspects were acquitted due to lack of evidence.

The crackdown on terror financing was carried out by a joint team of the Counter-Terrorism Department, Customs, the Federal Investigation Agency and other intelligence agencies, the documents show.

Islamabad says it has sacrificed thousands of lives and billions of dollars in its fight against terrorism.

The country is also under pressure from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global watchdog that monitors money laundering and terror financing.