KARACHI: A meeting, held between Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Murad Ali Shah and a US congressional delegation at the CM House on Thursday, discussed the measures taken by the Sindh government to stop terror financing.
During the meeting, the CM informed the delegation that the Sindh government had seized/frozen 65 properties owned by four banned organisations under the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Act 1948 and UNSC Freezing & Seizure Order 2019.
The US delegation comprised of Congressmen Jim Himes, Sean Patrick Maloney, Congressman and member of the House Parliament Select Committee on Intelligence, US Consul General Robert Silberstein, Deputy Consul General Darian Arky and other officials.
On the occasion, Shah said that 59 properties of Jamaatud Dawa (JuD), Falah-i-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) and Jaish-i-Mohammad (JeM) were seized, while the provincial government also took into possession six properties belonging to the Afghan Taliban.
He further said, “No evidence of the existence of proscribed organisation or groups has been found here in Sindh. Therefore, no arrest or prosecution of any individual has been made in connection with UN sanction Regime 1267 and 1373.”
Talking in connection to terror financing cases, the Sindh CM said that 47 cases of terror financing had been registered and were being currently investigated by the Counter-Terrorism Department of provincial police.
In reference to non-profit organisations (NPOs), he said that a survey of 527 (11.5 per cent) of NPOs was conducted to assess their vulnerability to terror financing. The survey data has been shared with the federal government and the interior ministry.
Moreover, he said that 4,693 inactive NPOs had been de-registered, adding that a further 2,828 inactive NPOs were in the process of being de-registered by the social welfare department.
He also said that 1,613 NPOs registered with industries and commerce department were also in the process of de-registration in the first phase.
He said that there were 25,426 NPOs registered in Sindh, including 14,834 with industries department and 10,592 NPOs with the social welfare department.
CM Shah disclosed that 19 NPOs were under investigation in Sindh, out of which around 14 NPOs were affiliates of proscribed organisations such as JuD, FIF and JeM, whereas five NPOs were being currently investigated for their terror financing vulnerability.
He further said that after the enactment of the Sindh Charities Act 2019, decisive action would be taken against unregistered NPOs. The draft of the law has been approved by the provincial cabinet, he added.
Government Action Against Terror Financing
While informing the delegation about anti-money laundering action taken by the Sindh government, the chief minister said that he had formed a taskforce under the home secretary to check money laundering.
He further said that the taskforce has directed all stakeholders, including Pakistan Customs, Airport Security Force and the Federal Investigation Agency for the establishment of Currency Detection Units at major airports to stop currency smuggling.
Later, the visiting US delegation appreciated the efforts made by the Sindh government to control terror financing in province.
During the meeting, the CM informed the delegation that the Sindh government had seized/frozen 65 properties owned by four banned organisations under the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Act 1948 and UNSC Freezing & Seizure Order 2019.
The US delegation comprised of Congressmen Jim Himes, Sean Patrick Maloney, Congressman and member of the House Parliament Select Committee on Intelligence, US Consul General Robert Silberstein, Deputy Consul General Darian Arky and other officials.
On the occasion, Shah said that 59 properties of Jamaatud Dawa (JuD), Falah-i-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) and Jaish-i-Mohammad (JeM) were seized, while the provincial government also took into possession six properties belonging to the Afghan Taliban.
He further said, “No evidence of the existence of proscribed organisation or groups has been found here in Sindh. Therefore, no arrest or prosecution of any individual has been made in connection with UN sanction Regime 1267 and 1373.”
Talking in connection to terror financing cases, the Sindh CM said that 47 cases of terror financing had been registered and were being currently investigated by the Counter-Terrorism Department of provincial police.
In reference to non-profit organisations (NPOs), he said that a survey of 527 (11.5 per cent) of NPOs was conducted to assess their vulnerability to terror financing. The survey data has been shared with the federal government and the interior ministry.
Moreover, he said that 4,693 inactive NPOs had been de-registered, adding that a further 2,828 inactive NPOs were in the process of being de-registered by the social welfare department.
He also said that 1,613 NPOs registered with industries and commerce department were also in the process of de-registration in the first phase.
He said that there were 25,426 NPOs registered in Sindh, including 14,834 with industries department and 10,592 NPOs with the social welfare department.
CM Shah disclosed that 19 NPOs were under investigation in Sindh, out of which around 14 NPOs were affiliates of proscribed organisations such as JuD, FIF and JeM, whereas five NPOs were being currently investigated for their terror financing vulnerability.
He further said that after the enactment of the Sindh Charities Act 2019, decisive action would be taken against unregistered NPOs. The draft of the law has been approved by the provincial cabinet, he added.
Government Action Against Terror Financing
While informing the delegation about anti-money laundering action taken by the Sindh government, the chief minister said that he had formed a taskforce under the home secretary to check money laundering.
He further said that the taskforce has directed all stakeholders, including Pakistan Customs, Airport Security Force and the Federal Investigation Agency for the establishment of Currency Detection Units at major airports to stop currency smuggling.
Later, the visiting US delegation appreciated the efforts made by the Sindh government to control terror financing in province.