JeM chief Masood Azhar’s arrest: PM Imran Khan to make final decision in 24 hours

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan will decide whether Jaish-e-Mohammad Chief Maulana Masood Azhar be taken into custody or not in the next 24 hours, sources at the ministry of interior said Tuesday.

PM Imran Khan, who also holds the portfolio of Interior Minister, will make the final decision pertaining to the arrest of Masood Azhar.

The name of Masood Ahzar is included in the dossier handed over by India to Pakistan, the interior ministry sources said.

Earlier, Pakistan on Tuesday arrested 44 members of banned outfits including a brother of Maulana Masood Azhar.

State Minister for Information Minister Shehryar Afiri said at a press conference that the action is not result of any pressure.

Mufti Abdur Rauf, brother of Maulana Azhar, and Hammad Azhar are among those arrested during the crackdown.

The minister said the action would be taken against all the proscribed organizations.

Secretary Interior said dossier shared by Indian government with Pakistan also contained names of Mufti Abdur Rauf and Hammad Azhar.