Islamic State now banned in Pakistan

Islamabad: After denying presence of the militant Islamic State (IS) group in Pakistan, the Government has disclosed that it is among the 61 organisations that have been banned in the country.

According to the Dawn, Minister of State for Interior Baleeghur Rahman informed the Senate that Daesh (the Arabic acronym of IS) had been placed on the list of banned organisations on July 15.

This was the only addition to the list made by the government during the last two and a half years.

The minister confirmed that ban on arms licences was relaxed to facilitate President Mamnoon Hussain`s son and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

He said the prime minister had been gifted a weapon, warranting issuance of licence. He said the interior minister had placed ban on issuance of arms licences on June 20, 2013 and had the right to relax the ban.

ANI