Two blacklisted Pakistani groups found operating under aliases: U

Washington, Jul 3 (UNI) The US Department of the Treasury today added to its list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) new aliases under which Al Rashid Trust and Al-Akhtar Trust International are operating in an apparent effort to circumvent sanctions imposed by the United States and the United Nations.

''We are very concerned about designated entities reconstituting themselves under new names in attempts to circumvent sanctions and continue funneling money to terrorist activities,'' Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), Adam J. Szubin said in press release yesterday.

''OFAC will continue to put the public on notice when we find that a designated entity is trying to operate under the cloak of a new alias,'' the release informed.

The Bush administration blacklisted Al Rashid Trust in September of 2001 and Al-Akhtar Trust International in 2003. The US accuses the groups of providing support to al-Qaida.

The designation freezes the groups' US assets and bans Americans from making donations to or doing business with the organisations.

A Treasury Department statement says Al Rashid Trust is now operating under numerous other names, including Al Amin Welfare Trust and Al-Ameen Trust.

It says Al-Akhtar Trust International is using multiple aliases, including Pakistan Relief Foundation and Azmat Pakistan Trust.

The statement says the United States is concerned the two groups are operating under new names to elude US and UN sanctions and keep funneling money to terrorists.

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