HomeCirculars › RBI/2022-23/167

UAPA Sanctions: New UNSC Terror Listing Added

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2022-23/167 · issued 17 Jan 2023 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI mandates all regulated entities to freeze assets and block accounts of Abdul Rehman Makki, newly added to the UNSC 1267/1989 sanctions list. Banks must immediately screen customers and report any matches to MHA.
Sanctions-list safety note. This circular refers to a specific UN Security Council / UAPA designated-entities list update as it stood on the date above — sanctions lists change often, and a newer update almost certainly exists today. Never use this page, or any single dated circular, as your current screening list. Always screen against the live, current list at the official UAPA proscribed-organisations list and the UN Consolidated List, and confirm the obligations for your bank on the official rbi.org.in source below.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

A compliance officer at a bank in Mumbai will immediately screen the bank's customer database for any accounts linked to Abdul Rehman Makki and freeze those accounts to prevent any transactions. The officer will also report any matches to the Financial Intelligence Unit and the Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure the bank is complying with the regulations. This helps prevent any potential terrorist financing activities.

What changed

The UN Security Council added one individual—Abdul Rehman Makki (alias Abdur Rehman Makki, etc.)—to its ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List on January 16, 2023. RBI has now directed all regulated entities to implement the asset freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo against this entry under Section 51A of UAPA, 1967.

What it means for you

Banks must immediately check their customer database for any accounts or transactions linked to this newly listed individual. Any identified accounts must be frozen, and no further transactions should be permitted. Non-compliance could attract regulatory action under KYC Master Directions and UAPA provisions.

What you must do

Who it affects

All scheduled commercial banks, Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), Payment system operators, All other RBI-regulated entities

❓ Common questions

What is the legal basis for this action?

Section 51A of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, read with RBI's KYC Master Directions (Feb 25, 2016, as amended), requires all regulated entities to freeze assets and deny services to individuals/entities on the UNSC sanctions list.

How do I handle a customer who claims to be wrongly listed?

Forward the delisting request electronically to Joint Secretary (CTCR), Ministry of Home Affairs. Also inform the customer they can approach the UN Ombudsperson for independent review.

Where can I find the full updated sanctions list?

The complete ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List is available at www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267/aq_sanctions_list and the Taliban list at www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1988/materials.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2022-23/167 DOR.AML.REC.97/14.06.001/2022-23 January 17, 2023 The Chairpersons/CEOs of all the Regulated Entities Madam/Dear Sir, Implementation of Section 51A of UAPA, 1967: Updates to UNSC’s 1267/ 1989 ISIL (Da'esh) & Al-Qaida Sanctions List: Addition of 1 entry Please refer to Section 51 of our Master Direction on Know Your Customer dated February 25, 2016 as amended on May 10 , 2021, in terms of which “Regulated Entities (REs) shall ensure that in terms of Section 51A of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) (UAPA) Act, 1967, they do not have any account in the name of individuals/entities appearing in the lists of individuals and entities, suspected of having terrorist links, which are approved by and periodically circulated by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).” 2. In this connection, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has informed about UNSC press release SC/15177 dated January 16, 2023 wherein the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL (Da’esh), Al-Qaida, and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities approved the addition of the entry specified below to its ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List of individuals and entities subject to the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo set out in paragraph 1 of Security Council resolution 2610 (2021) and adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations: A. Individuals QDi.433 Name: 1. ABDUL 2. REHMAN 3. MAKKI 4: na  Name (original Script): na  Title: na  Designation: na  DOB: 10 Dec. 1954  POB: Bahawalpur, Punjab Province, Pakistan  Good quality a.k.a.: a) Abdur Rehman Makki; b) Abdur Rahman Makki, c) Abdul Rahman Makki; d) Hafiz Abdul Rahman Makki;  e)  Hafiz Abdul Rehman Makki; f)  Hafiz Abdul Rehman  Low quality a.k.a.: na  Nationality: Pakistan  Passport No: a) Pakistan number CG9153881, issued on 2 Nov 2007 b) Pakistan number A5199819  National Identification No: a) Pakistan 6110111883885 b) Pakistan 34454009709 Address: Tayyiba Markaz, Muridke, Punjab Province, Pakistan  Listed on:  16 Jan. 2023 Other Information:   He is deputy Amir/Chief of LASHKAR-E-TAYYIBA (LET) (QDe.118) a.k.a JAMAAT-UD-DAWA (JUD) and Head of Political Affairs Wing JUD/LET. He also served as head of LET’s foreign relations department and member of Shura (governing body). He is the brother-in-law of JUD/LET Chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed (Qdi.263).  Father’s name is Hafiz Abdullah Bahwalpuri. Photo is available for inclusion in the INTERPOL-UN Security Council Special Notice. INTERPOL-UN Security Council Special Notice web link: https://www.interpol.int/en/How-we-work/Notices/View-UN-Notices-Individuals 3. The UNSC press releases concerning amendments to the list is available at URL: https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267/press-releases 4. The details of the sanction measures and exemptions are available at the following URL: https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267#further_information In view of the above, Regulated Entities (REs) are advised to take appropriate action in terms of section 51, 52 and 53 of the RBI Master Directions on KYC dated February 25, 2016 as amended from time to time and strictly follow the procedure laid down in the UAPA Order dated Feb 02, 2021 annexed to the MD ibid. 5. Updated lists of individuals and entities linked to ISIL (Da'esh), Al-Qaida and Taliban are available at: www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267/aq_sanctions_list https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1988/materials 6. Further, as per the instructions from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), any request for delisting received by any Regulated Entity (RE) is to be forwarded electronically to Joint Secretary (CTCR), MHA for consideration. Individuals, groups, undertakings or entities seeking to be removed from the Security Council’s ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List can submit their request for delisting to an independent and impartial Ombudsperson who has been appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General. More details are available at the following URL: https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/ombudsperson/application 7. REs are advised to take note of the aforementioned UNSC communications and ensure meticulous compliance. Yours faithfully, (Santosh Kumar Panigrahy) Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2022-23/167 · issued 17 Jan 2023. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
🧰 Tools — save, print, templates & related
Who does what — compliance checklist
💻 IT / Systems
  • Update internal AML/KYC systems and watchlists to include this new entry immediately.
📜 Compliance
  • Screen all existing and new customers against the updated UNSC sanctions list, specifically the entry for Abdul Rehman Makki.
  • Freeze any accounts or assets identified as belonging to or controlled by the listed individual, and report to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-IND) and MHA.
  • Forward any delisting requests received from customers to Joint Secretary (CTCR), MHA, and inform the UN Ombudsperson process.
Grouped from the action items above — a single circular may involve more than one team.
Worked example & action-note template

Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (All scheduled commercial banks, Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), Payment system operators, All other RBI-regulated entities), your first concrete step on “UAPA Sanctions: New UNSC Terror Listing Added” is: “Screen all existing and new customers against the updated UNSC sanctions list, specifically the entry for Abdul Rehman Makki.” (RBI issued this 17 Jan 2023).

  1. Circular: RBI/2022-23/167 -- UAPA Sanctions: New UNSC Terror Listing Added
  2. Issued: 17 Jan 2023
  3. Action required: Screen all existing and new customers against the updated UNSC sanctions list, specifically the entry for Abdul Rehman Makki.
  4. Action required: Freeze any accounts or assets identified as belonging to or controlled by the listed individual, and report to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-IND) and MHA.
  5. Action required: Update internal AML/KYC systems and watchlists to include this new entry immediately.
  6. Action required: Forward any delisting requests received from customers to Joint Secretary (CTCR), MHA, and inform the UN Ombudsperson process.
  7. Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
  8. Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
  9. Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
Built only from this circular’s own published fields — not legal advice; always confirm against the official RBI source.

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Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=12442&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by our expert reviewer, CA Amit Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; is our own plain-English paraphrase, not RBI’s original wording.
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