US bars its citizens from making donations to Pak groups
The Bush administration has accused two already blacklisted Pakistan-based groups of operating under "new aliases" and barred all Americans from doing business with the groups.
The Bush administration has accused two already blacklisted Pakistan-based groups of operating under "new aliases" and barred all Americans from doing business with the groups.
The Treasury Department has identified numerous alleged aliases for Trust International, groups which were formerly associated with assisting the al-Qaida.
The designation means any assets found in the United States are frozen and Americans are barred from making donations or otherwise doing business with the groups.
"We are very concerned about designated entities reconstituting themselves under new names in attempts to circumvent sanctions and continue funneling money to terrorist activities," Adam J Szubin, Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the Department of Treasury said.
"OFAC will continue to put the public on notice when we find that a designated entity is trying to operate under the cloak of a new alias," he added.
According to the Treasury Department, the Al Rashid Trust has different aliases like the Al Amin Welfare Trust, the Al Amin Trust; Al Ameen Trust; and the Al Madina Trust.
Al Rashid Trust was designated on September 23, 2001, in the Annex to Executive Order 13224 and was added to the UN 1267 Committee's List of individuals and entities associated with Osama bin Laden, al-Qaida or the Taliban on April 24, 2002. As of mid-2007, it was operating under the name Al Amin Welfare Trust.
The Al Akhtar Trust International went by aliases like Pakistan Relief Foundation; Azmat-e-Pakistan Trust and Azmat Pakistan Trust.
The Al-Akhtar Trust International was designated on October 14, 2003, and was added to the UN 1267 Committee's List on August 17, 2005. As of July 2007, it was using the alternate names.
"As of May 2007, Pakistan Relief Foundation had taken over all assets of Al-Akhtar Trust and Al-Akhtar Trust's senior leaders had begun working on behalf of Pakistan Relief Foundation," it said.
"Al Rashid Trust, Al-Akhtar Trust International, and the AKAs named on Wednesday are designated under Executive Order 13224, which targets terrorists, those owned or controlled by or acting for or on behalf of terrorists, and those providing financial, technological, or material support to terrorists or acts of terrorism.
"Assets of these designees held under US jurisdiction are frozen and US persons are prohibited from engaging in transactions in property or interests in property blocked under the order," the federal department has said.