KARACHI, Pakistan - The central State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Thursday told all banks to freeze accounts of two banned militant groups often blamed for violence between majority Sunni and minority Shi'ite sects of Islam.
"The Government of Pakistan...has declared Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Sipah-e-Mohammad to be proscribed organisations," the SBP said in a circular to banks.
"In view of the above, you are advised to take immediate steps to freeze the accounts of the proscribed organisations," it said.
Pakistani military ruler General Pervez Musharraf earlier this month banned the rival groups and warned two others that they might also be outlawed if found to be involved in sectarian violence.
Tit-for-tat sectarian violence in Pakistan has claimed scores of lives this year and hundreds in recent years.
03:38 08-23-01
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