Designating JuA chief as global terrorist: UNSC body rejects Pakistan's request

The UN Security Council's ISIL (Da'esh) and al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee has turned down Pakistan's request to designate Umar Khalid Khorasani, chief of banned Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA), as global terrorist, it was learnt. Diplomatic sources told Business Recorder that Pakistan's application seeking designation of Khorasani for being chief of an already designated terrorist entity - JuA - was submitted to the UN Security Council's sanction committee on 21 July 2017.
"But some countries including the United States opposed designating Khorasani as the global terrorist and placed a 'technical hold'. Consequently on May 4, 2018, the UN Security Council's sanctions committee rejected Pakistan's application," said a senior diplomat. The UN Security Council's sanction committee on July 6, 2017 had already added JuA to its list of entities and individuals subject to the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo.
When approached Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal confirmed it and stated: "Pakistan is deeply disappointed at the move that the committee could not sanction chief of the already designated terrorist group." He said that Khorasani and his terror group JuA, currently based in a 'safe haven' in Afghanistan, is involved in deadly terrorist attacks inside Pakistan that resulted in loss of precious lives.
The JuA, a splinter group of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has been involved in various terrorist attacks including March 27, 2016 attack in Lahore targeting Easter gathering of Christian community, killing 69 people including women and children. In yet another such terror attack, the group claimed responsibility for February 13, 2017 suicide attack in which senior police officers of the ranks of DIG and SSP were killed in Lahore.
Prior to formation of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar in August 2014, Khorasani was ousted by the incumbent TTP chief Mullah Fazlullah who was then TTP leader of Mohmand Agency chapter. After the fully-fledged military operation launched by Pakistan military in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in June 2014, Pakistani officials believe that Khorasani and his JuA are operating from Afghanistan.
"We have made repeated requests to Afghan government as well as the US to take action against the terror outfits, including TTP and JuA, using Afghan soil for carrying out attacks inside Pakistan," said a senior government official. The official also described the UN Security Council's sanctions committee decision as disappointing, saying it was contrary to the principles of the committee and it was a "politically motivated move."
"If Jamaat-ul-Ahrar is a bad and terrorist entity, how come its head comes out to be a good guy," the official said, adding that Pakistan will again approach the UNSC committee for the purpose. "The move badly exposed the double standard of international community and the complete disregard to Pakistan's concerns over the use of Afghan territory by the terrorist outfits such JuA and TTP," he added.