KARACHI, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Authorities in Pakistan's southern Sindh province have banned militant Islamist groups from displaying signboards and publicly raising cash to fund jihad, or Muslim holy war, in Pakistan and abroad.
A Sindh order, seen by Reuters on Tuesday, said the ban was effective from August 21.
"Any deviation from this order will be seriously viewed by the government and appropriate action shall be initiated against the offenders," the order said.
The order covers all jihadi groups, including outfits operating in Indian-controlled Kashmir where more than a dozen guerrilla groups are fighting New Delhi's rule.
India blames Pakistan for backing the rebels in the disputed Himalayan region -- an accusation Pakistan denies, saying it only provides moral and diplomatic support to the separatists.
Pakistani militants are also known to have operated in support of Muslim fighters in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Chechnya and the Philippines.
Pakistan's military regime last week banned two rival militant groups that are often blamed for violence between members of the majority Sunni and minority Shi'ite sects of Islam.
Hundreds of people have been killed in tit-for-tat sectarian violence in Pakistan in recent years.
Islamabad has also stepped up a drive against widespread illegal weapons and mounted a campaign against rising levels of crime.
Pakistan has been awash with weapons since the 1980s when Afghan mujahideen holy warriors battled Soviet forces occupying Afghanistan from bases in Pakistan.
More than 100,000 unlicensed weapons have been recovered since the disarmament campaign was launched in June, but the government says that represents the tip of the iceberg.
06:33 08-21-01
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