ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The National Assembly on Wednesday passed “The Anti-terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2020” and “The United Nations (Security Council) (Amendment) Bill 2020” to fulfill certain requirements of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in order to bring Pakistan out of FATF’s grey list.
The bills were passed with a majority vote amid sloganeering from the opposition benches.
The Anti-terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2020” was moved by the Minister for Interior Ijaz Ahmad Shan, and “The United Nations (Security Council) (Amendment) Bill 2020” was moved by the Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
The legislation is aimed at empowering the federal government to direct authorities in Pakistan to implement various measures, in the UN Security Council resolutions including the freezing and seizure of assets, travel ban and arms embargo on the entities and individuals, who are designated on the sanctions list of the United Nations.
The UN Security Council Resolution 1373 requires member states to implement counter-terrorism measures, especially countering the financing of terrorism through their domestic laws.
This obligation is implemented in Pakistan through the Anti-Pakistan Act, 1997.
