Senate panel strengthens anti-terror law to clamp down on terror financing

Amendments regarding terror financing in the Anti-Terror law of 1997 approved by the Senate Standing Committee.

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics control unanimously approved the Anti-Terrorism Amendment Bill, relating to counter-financing of terrorism, Radio Pakistan reported.

The amendments address drawbacks related to provisions on terror financing in the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 which were brought to notice by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

National Assembly had passed the bill and had referred it to the Senate Secretariat.

The bill will enable the government to ban any organisation if there are reasonable grounds to consider the group's involvement in terror activities. or for being owned by an outlawed individual or organisation.

The property or funds of such a banned organisation can be frozen or seized and allow law enforcement agencies to investigate financial crimes by individuals or organisations believed to be involved in terror activities.

The government has agreed to implement an action plan that complies its laws with international standards.