'Masood Azhar next', his son among 44 held in Pakistan

Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar's son and brother were among 44 members of the banned militant outfits arrested by authorities in Pakistan on Tuesday, amid mounting pressure on Islamabad to rein in terror groups operating on its soil. "We have taken 44 people in custody as part of crackdown on militant groups," Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Khan Afridi told reporters here.

It's also learnt that Pakistan ministry of interior has recommended arrest of JeM Chief Masood Azhar. The MOI has sent its recommendation to PM Imran Khan. Top sources told WION that the decision could be taken in the next 24-48 hours.

The order for preventive detention of Masood Azhar's brother Mufti Abdul Rauf aka Rauf Asghar and son Hammad Azhar was taken in the same meeting.

Khan said a dossier shared by India with Pakistan last week also contained names of Rauf and Hammad Azhar.