UNSC's sanctions panel considering more names

UNITED NATIONS - The UN Security Council Al-Qaeda and Taliban Sanctions Committee is understood to have been given some more names by the United States to be added to the list of individuals and organizations sanctioned by the world body for being associated with terrorism. But the committee has made no decision in this regard, according to informed sources. The Pakistan Mission to the United Nations declined to comment on the reports to this effect being circulated here. However, other diplomats said any decision on the move would take some more time. Meanwhile, the United Nations has not yet received any petition from Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) or four of its leaders seeking a review of the sanctions imposed on them by the Security Council in the wake of Mumbai attacks, a world body spokesman said Tuesday. If received, spokesperson Michele Montas said the request would need to be considered by the Security Council. The petition could be sent direct to the council. However, if received by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, he would forward it to the council, she said. The petition would have to be sent through a member State, Ms. Montas added. Lst week, the United Nations Security Council slapped sanctions on Jaamt-ud-Dawa (JUD) and its head Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, LeT operational chief Zakir-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and two of their financiers Haji Muhammad Ashraf and Zaki-ur-Bahaziq, an Indian born Saudi who collects funds for them in Saudi Arabia. Asked whether the UN will investigate Indian charges against JuD and four others on whom sanctions were placed, the UN spokesperson said the world body does not investigate such incidents. It was done by local authorities who are doing so, she added.

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