Senator warns against putting Pakistan on terror watch list

F.P. Report

Islamabad: Senator Farhatullah Babar warned against Pakistan being put on the watch list as a country deemed non compliant with terror financing regulations of the UN and as a result suffer huge economic backlash and called for sincerity of purpose in matching the promises with the ground reality.

Speaking on an issue of public importance in the Senate today he said that the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) will meet in Paris early next week.

The Paris meeting will consider Pakistan’s compliance status with international regulations to choke financing infrastructure of terror organizations.

In addition it will also consider a motion to place Pakistan on the terror financing watch list already moved by the US and some and some other European countries he said.

Expressing skepticism he said that four days ago the President promulgated an ordinance amending the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 so as to bring individuals and organizations listed by the UN Security Council in its ambit.

It was followed by Cabinet approval to the new Anti Terrorism (Freezing and Seizure) Rules 2018, he said. These are positive moves he said adding however, the fact that the Ordinance has not been brought before the Parliament as required under the Constitution and the law has raised some serious doubts about the intent of the move. “We must be sincere in honoring the pledges we make”.

He said that in the past also we have been making promises but not followed up on them prompting allegations of huge gap between pledges made and the ground reality.

We must realize that situation has changed and it is no longer possible to sidestep delivering on promises, he said. Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani also deplored that the ordinance issued by the President had not been placed before the Parliament even as it was in session.