Ghulam Idris Khan
Financial Action Task Force (FATF) with Head quarter in Paris, France, was established in 1989′ It is an inter-governmental organization with the mission to control money laundering and terrorism financing. India is full fledged member in 37 member house while Pakistan is associate member in Asia Pacific group.
Four members country of FATF namely the United States of America, Britain, France, and Germany had nominated Pakistan to be placed on the grey list of FATF. It is a list of countries non-compliant with terrorist financing regulation by the FATF.
Looking at this bumpy ride ahead, government of Pakistan in haste promulgated an ordinance on Feb. 9, 2018, which seeks amendment in Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997, with regards to proscribing of terrorist individuals and organization, to include entities listed by the United Nations Security Council. The matter also come under discussion in the Senate, when Senator Farhat ullah Babar raised the issue of public importance, and stated that government had taken these much delayed action ahead of meeting of financial action task force in Paris.
The Paris meeting would consider Pakistan’s compliance status with international regulation to choke financing infrastructure of terror organization. The meeting is to be held in Paris from 18th Feb. to 23rd Feb. 2018 to review steps taken by Pakistani authorities. India is full member and will focus on Pakistan. This meeting is to be followed by another meeting to be held in Kathmandu in July this year of Asia Pacific Group (APG). Although Russia, China, and Turkey are the members of the FATF, it looks like they may have some favorable angle but the presence of India and club of four may produce strong resolution, which will create problems for Pakistan. Pakistan has recently taken some steps including banning of Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Muhammad, Jamaat-ud -Dawa and Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation on the recommendation of international community. Will it be sufficient for the world to trust our actions, will Pakistan may escape adopting strong resolution in Paris?
If Pakistan is placed on grey list of FATF, as it is joint move of four bigs. India is active and lobbying against Pakistan. Trump administration has already been troubling Pakistan, as it is on the rader of US Intelligence committee, looking at countries which present a global threat. Pakistan enjoyed good relation with United Kingdom and worked closely on security cooperation, but on the extremist groups, they followed US line, rather Pakistan. Pakistan has not been able to convince them to listen our narrative. We often blamed India for political maneuvering and in this case too, India must have contact with 36 others to hamper Pakistan economic progress to put us on grey list.
Pakistan economy will suffer further. It will be harder and difficult for Pakistan to borrow money from international lending institutions for its development programs. We need to look at our own house too. Today international community is annoyed with Pakistan and again and again repeated concerned about alleged presence of state and non state actor on Pakistan soil. Pakistan explained to the world about its position, but confusion on our narrative still persist. It is due to the policies of the government of the day.
Till December 2014, the federal government and the provincial government of KP were favouring dialogue with militants. Interior Minister of that time and PTI chairman Imran Khan were spearheading the campaign. The PTI govt in KP offered for establishment of office in Peshawar for Taliban. The KP government allocated Rs 300 million to religious seminary.
According to the National Action Plan, Chief Minister of the province has the leading role. KP has its border with FATA and Afghanistan which remains the critical area for terrorism, as highlighted in PIPS report of 2017. But the Chief Minister is hosting members of banned entities in the CM House and was sitting on the stage with them in public meeting in Peshawar in mid-January this year. There are already financial complication. The country’s largest bank was hit by huge fine in New York USA by regulators for allegedly transaction of funds own by terrorists. These are few example. The world is ready to not buy our narrative despite the fact that its peoples, law-enforcing agencies, and army have laid down their lives while fighting against terrorists. Our economy is ruined by the militants attacks. However the perception about Pakistan it sailing on both boats.
The government has started to implement the recommendation of FATF by detaining Hafiz Saeed, whose name is on the United Nations’ list of designated terrorist. However Lahore High Court ordered his released as the government is unable to produced concrete material for his detention.
The foreign office’s spokesperson told the media that Asia-Pacific Group (APG) was analyzing our report on January 20, 2018, while nomination of Pakistan on grey list was jointly submitted by USA and UK, Germany and France. The issue was discussed in the National Security Committee chaired by PM Abbasi and attended by concerned ministers and top brass of the Pakistan Army and foreign office senior officers. The NSC reviewed the progress and Pakistan’s commitment under FATF. The press release after the meeting said that Pakistan needed to convey its position and achievements comprehensively and clearly to FATF. Pakistan expresses the hope that the FATF will not be pressurized and politicized by a few countries.
Pakistan’s compliance to FATF look half hearted and adhoc basis, as it never froze the assets and ban all the organization listed by UN. Now the sudden emergence of presidential ordinance which was signed by President Mamnoon Hussin on Feb. 9, 2018 and landed on Feb. 13 in Senate will serve the purpose or only show to the world community that Pakistan is now serious in combating money laundering and terror financing. This ordinance now needs endorsement from the parliament within 120 days to become at a permanent law of the country. This law empowers the operators that if Pakistani individuals or entities designated by UN as terrorists, will automatically be banned here in Pakistan. Now the question is, will Pakistan be able avoid this bumpy ride? Hopefully so, as the meeting is going to be held in Paris from 18th Feb. up to 23rd Feb.
Although the motion is carried big four names but on the other side there are Russia, China and Turkey in the club of 37, who not support the motion against Pakistan and as such it may look like the motion may not be adopted. Putting Pakistan on “grey list” require consensus. If a few countries made objection, it will dropped. But for how long we will be looking to others to rescue us? This is need of hour, to make our own house in order to never face such bumpy flight in future.
