Pakistan says it is cracking down on banned militant groups throughout country

Pakistan to crack down on banned militant groups

ISLAMABAD — Interior Minister Rehman Malik says law enforcement agencies throughout Pakistan have been told to crack down on banned militant groups.

Malik said Friday that such groups would not be allowed to stage protests and individual militants would face “strict action.” Malik said the crackdown applies to all major cities but he did not give further details.

The directive comes a week after militants attacked the Ahmadi religious sect in Lahore, killing nearly 100 people.

Many militant groups banned by the government still stage public meetings and demonstrations without retribution. Pakistan’s commitment to a crackdown has been questioned as the country was perceived as wanting to avoid confronting militants that focus outside its borders.