Staff Reporter
Islamabad
The National Assembly passed the Anti-Terrorism Bill 2020 on Wednesday in a majority vote. The Pakistan People’s Party, the Pakistan Muslim League-N and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F, voted with the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in favour of the bill.
Law Minister Farogh Naseem introduced the Anti-Terrorism Bill 2020 before the house which convened under the chairmanship of Speaker Asad Qaiser. The bill was met with objections from BNP-Mengal’s corner but the majority of the house, including the major opposition parties supported the government’s proposal.
The bill prohibits provision of loans or financial assistance to those associated with banned organisations and restricts all banks and financial institutions from issuing credit cards to persons barred under the bill, that further states that armed licenses already issued to such persons will be revoked and said weapons will be sealed. No new licenses will be issued to the persons barred under the bill and they will be penalised for carrying weapons, according to the bill.
According to the amended bill, those involved in terrorist activities may be fined up to Rs50 million while those who fail to implement the bill may face between five to 10 years of imprisonment.
The state will also have the power to freeze the accounts and travel documents of those found to be involved in terrorist activities under the bill. As the house passed the bill with majority vote objections were raised from BNP-Mengal’s corner that it needed to be specified as to what terrorism is and defined who is deemed a terrorist.
Lawmakers of the JUI-F expressed support for the bill as part of the Financial Action Task Force legislation. JUI-F MNA Shahida Akhtar Ali said that the government and the opposition are united when it comes to Pakistan.
Terrorism has no religion, she said, adding that the term terrorism should be properly explained and defined. “Our objection was on the procedure of the lawmaking. Legislation should be transparent so that questions are not raised later,” she said.
“We will partake in the legislation for the sake of the country,” said the JUI-F lawmaker expressing hope that Pakistan is removed off the grey list.
The PML-N also withdrew its earlier reservations to the bill stating that the government had incorporated their recommended edits. “The government has included our proposed amendments, said PML-N lawmaker Mohsin Nawaz, adding that his party wished for the country to be off the grey list.
Federal Law Minister Farogh Naseem expressed his gratitude at the opposition’s support towards the legislation of the FATF. He expressed his satisfaction at the house passing the bill and said that it should be clear that terrorism and Islam are separate.
“Pakistan’s economy should be white listed instead of being blacklisted. It is essential for country’s survival that it has strict laws pertaining to money laundering,” he said.
