ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice Thursday unanimously passed the "Anti-Terrorism Act, 2020" and "the United Nations (Security Council) Act, 2020" with some amendments to fulfill certain requirements of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to bring Pakistan out of the FATF's grey list.
The committee, which met with Senator Muhammad Javed Abbasi in the chair discussed in detail both the bills and passed it with some amendments.
Abbasi said that both the bills were very important, which were passed by the National Assembly and presented in the Upper House and sent to the committee for further deliberations.
The special secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, briefed the committee on the UN Security Council Amendment Bill 2020, stating that the UN Security Council Act was enacted in 1948.
It needs to be amended over time in accordance with international norms and standards.
Senator Musadik Malik asked if the amendments were made as per the terms and conditions of the FATF or there was a deficiency in our law.
On this, an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that those were the requirements of the FATF.
Members of the committee demanded to provide them a copy of requirements and demands of the FATF.
The chairman directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide copy of demands of the FATF to all the members.
The bill seeks to amend the United Nations (Security Council) Act, 1948 (XIV of 1948) in order to ensure the effective implementation of the resolutions of the United Nation Security Council.
The committee reviewed the bill in detail, and unanimously approved it with amendments.
Secretary Ministry of Interior Yousaf Naseem Khokhar briefed the committee about Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2020, and informed the committee regarding some amendments been proposed in the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.
According to the statements of objects and reasons of the bill that the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 though comprehensive in its scope, lacks certain provisions in relation to the implementation of United Nation Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs) 1267 and 1373.
The UNSCRs 1267 and 1373 were adopted under Article 41 of chapter VII of the United Nations Charter making them obligatory for all members of the United Nations.
Through the UNSCR 1267, member's states of the United Nations implement the sanctions measures of assets freeze, arms embargo and travel ban on the entities and individuals who are designated on the sanctions list.
The UNSCR 1373 requires member states to implement counter-terrorism measures especially countering the financing of terrorism through their domestic laws.
The above obligation is implemented in Pakistan thorough an Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.
The penalties already provided in the said Act are not dissuasive for violation of assets seizure provisions in section II-O, and the provided amount of fine is insufficient.
The parliamentary penal reviewed the proposals and unanimously approved the bill with some amendments.
Abbasi said that the suggestions made by the committee to make the laws more effective in the interest of the country, and government has taken these suggestions seriously and accepted it, and the suggestions were approved by the committee.
They will be included in the report and presented in the house.
Senator Mian Raza Rabbani, Farooq H Naek, Ayesha Raza Farooq, Sirajul Haq, Musadik Masood Malik, Rehman Malik, Mohsin Aziz, Hidayatullah, Zeeshan Khanzada, Manzoor Ahmed, Dr Ghous Muhammad Khan Niazi, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Waleed Iqbal, Mohammad Ali Khan Saif, Kauda Babar, Mohsin Aziz, Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Federal Minister for Law and Justice Barrister Dr Mohammad Farogh Naseem, and senior officials of the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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