KARACHI: Pakistan’s chances of being removed from the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) grey list remained on track, with experts telling Arab News on Thursday that a lot would be based on a “fair review of its progress.”
Their comments were in the wake of an announcement a day earlier whereby Pakistan had said that it would amend its Anti-Money Laundering Act as a measure.
If implemented, the proposed changes to the legal framework would make money laundering a non-bailable offense with a maximum prison sentence of 10 years, a fine of up to Rs5 million, and forfeiture of property involved in the offense or any property of corresponding value.
“FATF’s decision to allow more time to Pakistan to meet all the requirements to come out of the grey list gave the government a breathing space. Now, officials are making the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2010, more effective to cover Benami accounts [or accounts opened in other people’s names] and assets. For this purpose, after a delay of nearly two years, the Benami Transactions Prohibition Act of 2017 has also been notified,” Dr. Ikram ul Haq, an expert on financial and legal matters, told Arab News.
The FATF, in a statement issued in February, had termed Pakistan’s progress on the implementation of its action plan as “limited” and asked Islamabad to address all strategic deficiencies.
“Pakistan has revised its TF [terror financing] risk assessment. However, it does not demonstrate a proper understanding of the TF risks posed by Da’esh (ISIS), Al-Qaeda, JuD [Jamaat-ud-Dawa], FIF [Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation], LeT [Lashkar-e-Taiba], JeM [Jaish-e-Mohammad], HQN [Haqqani Network] and persons affiliated with the Taliban,” the statement added.
However, people involved in the action plan and its implementation believe that the country would be removed from the grey list provided that an impartial review was conducted.
“Pakistan has made huge progress in implementing the AML [anti-money laundering] laws. In fact, our laws are far better than India’s. They [FATF] should also share progress of other countries with us. I am sure if a fair review is conducted, Pakistan would be out of the grey list,” Ashfaq Yousuf Tola, a senior chartered accountant who is privy to developments related to the subject, told Arab News.
Pakistan believes that in the presence of India, FATF would not be able to do a fair review. Recently, Finance Minister Asad Umar had asked the global watchdog’s president to appoint any other FATF member as the co-chair of the Asia-Pacific Joint Group in place of India “to ensure that FATF review process is fair, unbiased and objective.”
“Our AML and Benami laws are almost the same as those of India and our implementation is far better than India,” Tola, who has always maintained that Pakistan’s inclusion in the grey list was unfair, said.
According to Dr. Haq, Pakistan faces the challenge of enforcement since “enormous funds are invested in real estate where ‘benamidars’ [or name-lenders] are used to disguise the real ownership and sources of funds.”
“The PTI government,” he added, “has decided to remove all such legal lacunae. Once it is done and a proper crackdown is launched against the offenders, there are chances that the country would get its name removed from the grey list.”
Pakistan seeks to curb money laundering ahead of crucial review
Pakistan seeks to curb money laundering ahead of crucial review
- Devises measures to make it a non-bailable offense with a maximum sentence of 10 years
- Country could be removed from global watchdog’s grey list if analysis fair, experts say
Ayub century helps Pakistan crush Zimbabwe, level series
- Ayub struck unbeaten 113 as Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 10 wickets to level one-day international series with one match to come
- Zimbabwe were all out for 145 at Queens Sports Club as they sought a second victory over the tourists
ZIMBABWE: Saim Ayub struck an unbeaten 113 as Pakistan crushed Zimbabwe by 10 wickets in Bulawayo on Tuesday to level a one-day international series with one match to come.
Zimbabwe were all out for 145 at Queens Sports Club as they sought a second victory over the tourists in three days having won by 80 runs in a rain-shortened tour opener.
Pakistan then atoned for a poor batting show on Sunday with Ayub and fellow opener Abdullah Shafique (32 not out) unstoppable as they reached their target in 18.2 overs.
Ayub struck 17 runs and three sixes off 62 balls in a 75-minute stand while Shafique claimed four fours in the southern city.
Ayub reached his century off 53 balls — the second fastest in an ODI international by a Pakistani after Shahid Afridi.
Zimbabwe, seeking a first ODI series win over Pakistan, utilized five bowlers, but none made an impression with Brandon Mavuta, who conceded 47 runs in four overs, particularly expensive.
After winning the toss, Zimbabwe were quickly in trouble with openers Joylord Gumbie (five) and Tadiwanashe Marumani (four) back in the pavilion with less than four overs bowled.
Only Dion Myers, who struck six fours in his 33, and veteran Sean Williams, who posted 31 before being trapped leg before by Ayub, impressed for the home team.
Pakistan-born all-rounder Sikandar Raza, often the batting savior for Zimbabwe, made just 17 before becoming one of three victims of Salman Ali Agha.
Abrar Ahmed took four wickets and Ali Agha three for Pakistan, who arrived in southern Africa after a 3-0 ODI series loss in Australia.
The Zimbabwe ODI series decider is set for Thursday, followed by three Twenty20 internationals from Sunday, also in Bulawayo. Pakistan then visit South Africa for an all-format tour.
VPN demand increased 253% in Pakistan between Nov. 24-26 — Top10VPN
- Pakistani authorities have suspended mobile Internet services and blocked several VPNs amid a protest by PTI opposition party
- Social media platform X has been blocked since February and the government is also moving to implement a national firewall
ISLAMABAD: Top10VPN, an independent VPN review company, said this week VPN demand had more than tripled in Pakistan following the tightening of social media restrictions between Nov. 24-26, days that coincide with the launch of a protest movement by the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
Pakistani authorities have suspended mobile Internet services and blocked several VPNs amid a protest launched by supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been jailed since August 2023 on a spate of charges from corruption to terrorism.
The government has been cracking down on VPN use for weeks, with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority announcing that businesses and freelancers would be able to legally use VPNs by registering with the government, but unregistered VPNs will be blocked in Pakistan after Nov. 30. Authorities say the measures are meant to deter militants and other suspects who use VPNs to conceal their identities and spread “anti-state propaganda” and promote “blasphemous” or other illegal content online.
Digital rights activists say the move is part of government attempts to block vital tools that allow users to bypass restrictions amid a wave of digital crackdowns, particularly as the use of VPNs has sharply risen in Pakistan since February this year when the government banned X.
“Demand for VPN services initially increased by 102 percent in Pakistan on November 24 compared to the daily average over the 28 days prior,” Top10VPN said in a report.
The PTI had launched its ‘long march’ protest to the federal capital, Islamabad, on Nov. 24.
“VPN demand intensified the next day [Monday], at 253 percent above the baseline on November 25 and continues to remain elevated,” the website added. “The surge followed reports that WhatsApp had been targeted by the authorities, preventing media sharing.”
The federal government is also moving to implement a nationwide firewall to block malicious content, protect government networks from attacks, and allow the government to identify IP addresses associated with what it calls “anti-state propaganda” and terror attacks. Internet speeds have dropped by up to 30-40 percent over the past few months due to the firewall, according to the Wireless and Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan (WISPAP).
In August, the Pakistan Business Council (PBC) warned that frequent Internet disruptions and low speeds caused by poor implementation of the national firewall had led many multinational companies to consider relocating their offices out of Pakistan, with some having “already done so.” The Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), the country’s top representative body for the IT sector, warned last week Internet slowdowns and the restriction of VPN services could lead to financial losses and closures and increase operational costs for the industry by up to $150 million annually.
Pakistan’s IT and ITeS exports have been growing at an average of 30 percent per year, and are on the way to achieve over $15 billion in the next 5 years, according to industry data, provided the government ensures continuity in export, fiscal, financial, SME, infrastructure and IT policies.
“If the VPNs are blocked, most of IT companies, Call Centers, BPO [business process outsourcing] organizations of Pakistan will lose all the major Fortune 500 clients, as well as others – as data protection and cybersecurity are of paramount importance to our clients, and connecting to client systems through VPN is a global norm and standard, and is a basic requirement and expectation of clients around the world,” P@SHA Chairman Sajjad Mustafa Syed said in a statement released last Tuesday.
“Additionally, no international company of any size tolerates any intrusion into their security protocols by any private or public institution.”
Pakistan army says three militants attempting to infiltrate from Afghan border killed
- Kabul government denies it allows militants to use its soil to attack Pakistan
- Pakistan has seen sharp rise in militant attacks across the country in recent months
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan army said on Tuesday it had killed three militants out of a group that had tried to infiltrate its frontier with neighboring Afghanistan in the northwestern North Waziristan district, calling on Kabul to ensure “effective border management” on its side.
Islamabad, facing a sharp rise in militancy in recent months, says the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group uses Afghanistan as a base to launch attacks and that the ruling Taliban administration has provided safe havens to the group along their shared border. The Taliban government in Kabul denies this.
The TTP is separate from the Afghan Taliban movement but pledges loyalty to the group that has ruled Afghanistan after the US-led international forces withdrew in 2021.
“On night 25/26 November, movement of a group of khwarij [militants], who were trying to infiltrate through Pakistan-Afghanistan border, was picked up by the security forces in general area Hassan Khel, North Waziristan District,” the army said in a statement. “Own troops effectively engaged and thwarted their attempt to infiltrate. Resultantly, three Khwarij were sent to hell.”
The statement said Islamabad had “consistently” been asking the Afghan government to ensure effective border management on their side of the border.
“Interim Afghan Government is expected to fulfil its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by Khwarij for perpetuating acts of terrorism against Pakistan,” the army added.
“Security Forces of Pakistan are determined and remain committed to secure its borders and eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country.”
What has caused Pakistan’s deadly clashes between police and supporters of Imran Khan?
- Topping the demands of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party is the release of all its leaders, including Khan
- PTI supporters say they will hold ‘do or die’ sit-in at public square near parliament that is a popular protest site
Thousands of supporters of Pakistan’s jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan marched on the capital Islamabad this week, breaking through barricades and clashing with police in response to his call for a sit-in protest.
Here is a look at what led to the protest and this chapter of political rallies in Pakistan:
WHAT DO PROTESTERS WANT?
Topping the demands of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party is the release of all its leaders, including Khan, who has been jailed on a series of corruption charges since August 2023.
They also seek the resignation of the current government over what they call rigged general elections this year.
PTI supporters from across the country, including Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi, have marched on the capital, with large numbers coming from the party’s stronghold in the northern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
They have vowed to enter the capital and rally at a public square near parliament that is a popular protest site, holding what leaders have called a “do or die” sit-in.
HOW HAS THE GOVERNMENT RESPONDED?
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government has given no indication yet of bending to the demands. Authorities have used shipping containers to block major roads and streets in Islamabad, with police and paramilitary patrolling in riot gear.
Mobile Internet links are down and schools have been closed for several days in the capital and the nearby garrison city of Rawalpindi. Gatherings have been banned in Islamabad.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE MARCH BEGAN?
Thousands of supporters clashed with police and paramilitary troops on the weekend, as they tried to enter Islamabad.
Both sides have reported injuries and the prime minister’s office said members of the paramilitary were killed when they were run over by a car in the protest convoy. The interior ministry put the number of those killed at four.
WHERE DO THE PROTESTERS WANT TO GO?
The marchers aim to reach the roundabout near parliament that has long been a rallying point for protests and sit-ins that have marked Pakistan’s turbulent politics for decades.
The site is in Islamabad’s heavily fortified red zone, home to parliament, key government installations, luxury hotels, embassies and the offices of foreign organizations.
WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF POLITICAL PROTEST IN PAKISTAN?
Stormy politics and unrest during Pakistan’s 77-year history have included protests and sit-ins by opposition parties.
Khan led one of Pakistan’s largest sit-ins in 2014 when his supporters protesting against the PML-N government occupied the roundabout site for 126 days.
PTI supporters last marched on Islamabad in October, sparking days of clashes with police that killed one officer.
Ex-PM Khan party’s protest disrupts petrol supply in Islamabad, Punjab— oil transporters
- Authorities have sealed off roads leading to Islamabad with containers to deter protesters
- Several pump stations have run out of petrol due to non-delivery, says oil tankers association
ISLAMABAD: The supply of petrol to Islamabad and several cities in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province has been “severely affected” due to a protest by former prime minister Imran Khan’s party, an oil tankers association said on Tuesday, as major roads and highways leading to the capital were sealed off.
Pakistani authorities started closing highways and motorways leading to Islamabad in many parts of the country with shipping containers on Saturday, ahead of a “long march” to Islamabad by Khan’s party.
Authorities also said on Sunday they were closing certain sections of the motorway due to maintenance work. These sections were: M-1 Islamabad to Peshawar, M-2 Islamabad to Lahore, M-3 Lahore to Abdul Hakeem, M-4 Pindi Bhattian to Multan, M-14 Hakla to Yarik and M-11 Lahore to Sialkot.
The closed routes had stalled the delivery of petrol to several parts of Punjab and Islamabad, Oil Tanker Contractors Association spokesperson Noman Butt said.
“Routes to Islamabad, Rawalpindi and North Punjab are closed due to which supply from petrol tankers is severely affected,” Butt said in a statement.
“Thousands of tankers are waiting for the route to open.”
Butt said petrol had not been supplied to Gujranwala, Jhelum, Sialkot and Kharian districts in Punjab for the last three days.
He said petrol supply has also been affected in Islamabad, Kohala, and the northern city of Gilgit.
“Petrol has run out at pumps in many cities,” he added.
Khan’s party aims to pressure the government to end his imprisonment, which has lasted for over a year on what his party contends are politically motivated charges.
The party also aims to raise its voice against alleged rigging in the Feb. 8 general elections while calling for measures to ensure judicial independence, which it says has been undermined by the 26th constitutional amendment. The government denies this.
Thousands of Khan supporters arrived at D-Chowk, a high-security area in Islamabad’s Red Zone that houses key government buildings and is a popular site for protests, on Tuesday afternoon.
His supporters, led by the former prime minister’s wife Bushra Khan, braved teargassing, arrests and clashes to reach D-Chowk where they plan on staging a sit-in protest to demand his release.
Pakistan’s interior minister said three Rangers personnel and a Punjab Police constable had been killed in the clashes. The PTI rejects its supporters were responsible for their deaths.
