A year after being blacklisted for failure to adopt international standards on money laundering and terrorist financing, the Pakistan government has decided to amend the existing Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997.
The interior and finance ministries have sought suggestions from all stakeholders in this regard and have also requested for details on investigations and prosecutions carried out against individuals or organisations under the ATA.
The federal government has also directed the National Accountability Bureau, the Federal Investigation Agency, police and other law enforcement agencies to compile data on frozen assets, convictions, acquittals and forfeitures vis-à-vis fundraising linked to terrorism, reveal official documents available with The Express Tribune.
In a recent letter addressed to the finance minister, president of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an inter-governmental body that works on policies to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, provided an action plan for Pakistan to amend the ATA in line with accepted standards.
Since the interior ministry is already working on amending the ATA, the FATF recommended incorporating its proposals into the amendments.
The organisation’s regional review group is monitoring Pakistan’s implementation of anti-money laundering and combating of financing of terrorism regime, the letter said.
FATF recommendations, in line with United Nations Security Council resolution 1373, require countries to implement measures to freeze without delay funds, or other assets, of individuals who finance terrorism and terrorist organisations.
The 35-member FATF had blacklisted eight countries, including Pakistan, for not addressing deficiencies in its anti-money laundering and terrorist financing laws in February 2010.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 25th, 2012.
COMMENTS (2)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1714024018-0/ModiLara-(1)1714024018-0-270x192.webp)
Government will also have to take strict measures to curb the access of militants to materials, which can be utilized for making explosive devices.
Why you Put the picture of pyramid with it ? Didn't you get any better picture ?? don't you know its a sign of Dajjal but still making and posting such pictures ???