Pakistan announces terrorism finance crackdown on Lashkar-e-Taiba amid growing international pressure 

Pakistani authorities on Wednesdayannounced a crackdown against Hafiz Saeed, leader of the terrorist group blamed for deadly Mumbai attack in 200 killed 166 people, amid growing international pressure to act against militant groups, reported news agency Reuters.

The report quoting Pakistan's counter-terrorism department said that it had launched 23 cases against Saeed and 12 aides for using five trusts to collect funds and donations for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), blamed by India and the United States for the attacks in Mumbai.

Two banned LeT-linked charities, Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and Falah-i-Insaniat Foundation (FIF), were also targeted, the department said in a statement.

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"All the assets of these organizations and individuals will be frozen and taken over by the state," the report said quoting a counter-terrorism senior official who wasspeaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly.

The action was in accordance with UN sanctions against the individuals and entities, the counter-terrorism department said.

The move follows pressure from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which last year placed Pakistan on its "grey list" of countries with inadequate controls over money laundering and terrorism financing.

The international watchdog gave Pakistan an October deadline last month to improve its efforts against terrorism financing. The FATF has said Pakistan could end up on the blacklist when it reviews progress in a meeting later this year.

Hafiz Saeed, designated a global terrorist by both the United Nations and the United States, is one of the founders of LeT, or the Army of the Pure.

(With inputs from Reuters)