Islamabad
Pakistan has lifted a ban on a Sunni extremist outfit and unblocked assets of its chief, in a surprise decision hours before the country was placed on the ‘grey list’ by the Financial Action Task Force for failing to curb anti-terror financing.

The National Counter-Terrorism Authority on Wednesday issued a notification to lift the ban on Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) and unfreeze the assets of its chief Maulana Ahmed Ludhianvi.

The notification was issued on the recommendations of the Punjab province home department, the paper said.