Pakistan says group linked to Mumbai attacks can’t contest poll

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani group linked to the deadly 2008 Mumbai terror attacks was denied permission on Wednesday to register as a political party just weeks before national polls, officials said.

The Milli Muslim League (MML) was launched last August to contest the July 25 elections, which will be only the second democratic transfer of power in Pakistan’s history.

But the group was blacklisted by the US in April as Washington ramped up pressure on Islamabad to crack down on extremist groups operating in the country.

On Wednesday the Election Commission officially rejected their application to register as a political party.

“The Election Commission of Pakistan today rejected the registration request by the Milli Muslim League as a political party,” spokesman Altaf Ahmad told AFP.

He said that a detailed order would be issued later stating the reasons for the commission’s decision.

The MML was founded by charity Jamaat-ud-dawa (JUD), a wing of the militant group Lashkar-e-taiba (LET).

LET is accused of masterminding the 2008 Mumbai attacks that left 166 people dead and brought nucleararmed India and Pakistan to the brink of war. WARNING: Meanwhile, Counterterrorism forces have warned that extremist groups are planning to target political leaders and rallies in the run-up to national elections on July 25.

Former president Asif Zardari’s party and a Pukhtun nationalist group could be among those targeted, the counter-terrorism authority said in two separate reports based on evidence from spy agencies.

Pakistani Taliban groups hiding in the eastern Afghan province of Kunar and militants linked with the IS militia are planning attacks for around the time of the polls, said the reports, which were seen by dpa.