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DLP REPORT
ISLAMABAD
Hours after being rejected by the Senate, Pakistan’s parliament in a joint sitting on Wednesday passed three Financial Action Task Force-related laws in an attempt to avoid being added to the task force’s blacklist.
During the joint session, marred by opposition’s protest, the bills were passed with a thin majority of 10 votes, with 200 lawmakers voting in its support and 190 opposition legislators opposing the legislation.
The three bills with amendments were the Islamabad Capital Territory Waqf Properties Bill, 2020, Anti-Money Laundering (Second Amendment) Bill and the Anti-Terrorism Act (amendment) Bill, 2020.
As soon as the session began, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan tabled the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Waqf Properties Bill which was initially passed through a voice vote.
However, the NA speaker asked for a vote count with members being asked to stand up from their seats after the opposition shouted in protest. The bill was passed with 200 members voting in favour and 190 voting against it.
Being passed thrice from the NA in the past, the legislation was blocked three times by the opposition-dominated upper house, prompting President Arif Alvi to summon a joint session of the parliament to make crucial legislation.
The Paris-based FATF had placed Pakistan on its grey list in June 2018, making it extremely difficult for the country to raise money on the international bond market.
Before the passage of the bills, the Senate had rejected the FATF-related anti-money laundering legislation, objecting to some of its provisions.
According to the ATA (amendment) Bill, 2020, the one specifically aimed at addressing FATF’s 27-point action plan that the watchdog had given to Islamabad last year, the investigating officer, with the permission of the court, can conduct covert operations to detect terrorism funding, track communications and computer system by applying latest technologies in 60 days.
It also stated that written requests would be made to the court for extension in investigation and the court may extend the period for another 60 days.
The bill further said that funding for terrorism was a major obstacle in the country’s development and a source of disgrace to it. “Terrorism funding was benefiting those elements which were not only a threat to internal and external peace of the country but also its allies,” it said.
“The main purpose of introducing this bill is to enable law enforcement agencies to eradicate these curses by adopting certain preventive techniques with the empowered assistance of the courts of law,” it added.
The Anti-Money Laundering Bill, 2020, is about streamlining the existing anti money laundering law in line with international standards prescribed by the FATF.
The Islamabad Capital Territory Waqf Properties Bill is aimed at proper management, supervision, and administration of Waqf properties in the territorial limits of Islamabad Capital Territory.
