Islamabad: As part of its crackdown against militant outfits, Pakistan officials claimed to have sealed 137 offices of the three proscribed groups, including Khuddum-ul-Islam led by Jaish-e-Muhamamd leader Masood Azhar, and indicated banning four more outfits which sprang up with different names.

Denying reports of any mass arrests of members of banned groups, Director General of the Pakistan's National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC) retired Brigadier Javed Iqbal Cheema said police have so far sealed about 137 offices and seminaries of three banned militant outfits throughout Pakistan.

Stating that more offices of these groups could be sealed in the coming days, he said so far about 63 offices of Sunni militant outfit Millat-i-Islamia Pakistan (MIP) formerly known as Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan, 45 offices of Khuddam-i-Islam, and 29 offices of Shia politico- religious party Islami Tehrik-i-Pakistan (TIP) which was formerly known as Tehrik-i-Jafarya, have been sealed.

He said no leader or activists of these outfits have so far been detained except TIP leader Allama Sajid Naqvi, who was detained on charges of involvement in the murder MIP leader Tariq Azim.

"We are concentrating on sealing the establishments of the banned groups instead of arresting their leaders," he was quoted as saying by the local daily 'Dawn.'

Masood Azhar, however, has not been traced, even though police claimed to have raided his residence in Bahawalpur and various offices of his outfit.

PTI