Three crucial FATF bills passed

The National Assembly passed three key Financial Action Task Force (FATF) related bills in a session attended by the Prime Minister Imran Khan, President Dr. Arif Alvi.

The bills were moved by Adviser to PM on Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan, include: the Islamabad Capital Territory Waqf Properties Bill and the Anti-Money Laundering (Second Amendment) Bill, 2020, while the Anti-Terrorism (Third Amendment) Bill, 2020 was tabled by Faheem Khan.

According to the statement of subjects and reasons, the Islamabad Capital Territory Waqf Properties Bill, 2020 is aimed at proper management, supervision, and administration of Waqf properties in the territorial limits of Islamabad Capital Territory.

Meanwhile, the Anti-Money Laundering (Second Amendment) Bill, 2020 is aimed at streamlining the existing anti money laundering law in line with international standards prescribed by FATF.

It reflects the government’s firm resolve to strengthen its Anti-Money Laundering regime.

The Anti-Terrorism (Third Amendment) Bill, 2020 is essential to address the issue of terror financing, one of the major obstacles which is not only playing a degrading role against the development of the country but also imbuing such elements with the financial means which are an ultimate threat to the internal and external peace of the country, a press released issued by the Radio Pakistan showed.

It enables the law enforcement authorities to take certain encountering techniques with an authoritative support of the courts of law to curb terror financing, it added further.

The joint sitting also passed the Surveying and Mapping (Amendment) Bill, 2020 and the Islamabad High Court (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
Major objective of the Surveying and Mapping (Amendment) Bill, 2020 is to stop and prohibit printing, displaying, dissemination or using incorrect and unofficial maps of Pakistan.

The Islamabad High Court (Amendment) Bill, 2019 is aimed at increasing the number of judges in IHC from seven to ten, including the Chief Justice to overcome difficulties of the litigant public qua early disposal of long pending cases.

Other bills passed by the joint sitting of the parliament include Pakistan Medical Commission Bill, 2019, the Medical Tribunal Bill, 2019 and the ICT Rights of Persons with Disability Bill, 2020.