Pakistan bans two militant outfits

Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a splinter group of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, and Lashkar-i-Jhangvi Al-Alami (LeJ) were banned after recent deadly attacks in Balochistan and Sindh provinces, including last week’s assault at a sufi shrine in Balochistan that killed over 50 people. A spokesman for the interior ministry said the decision to ban them was made only a few days ago. 

A security official said the government banned them once it became clear that they were not ready to shun violence. However, both Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad have been listed as banned entities since January 14, 2002. The LeJ, a Sunni terrorist outfit, has roots in Punjab province and has a history of carrying outsectarian attacks in Balochistan.