FATF to question Islamabad on LeT, JuD and JeM funding
SECTIONS
Share
Synopsis
Pakistan has convicted a few individuals on terrorism financing charges and have given them concurrent sentences, instead of cumulative sentences while ignoring their involvement in major terrorist cases and overlooking prosecution in the majority of cases.
Agencies
NEW DELHI: The FATF plenary meeting which begins on Monday is expected to examine Pakistan’s representatives on funding of proscribed groups Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jamat-ud-Dawa and Jaish-e-Mohammed and affiliates. Islamabad’s response will have a bearing on its continuance in the grey list of the anti-terror watchdog.
ET has learnt that Pakistan’s prospects of exiting the grey list are limited, given the unchecked fund-raising activities of LeT, JuD, JeM and affiliates. Their recent social media posts reveal an alarming trend of open activity, including fundraising, promotion of ‘jihad’ and training, according to persons tracking activities of the groups. Pakistan’s reluctance to block LeT, JuD and JeM’s fundraising and its track record of ignoring the role of the groups in acts of terror may have convinced some FATF members of Islamabad’s lack of intent to address terrorism. Pakistan claims that it has complied with 24 out of the 27 FATF requirements but FATF member states are not convinced, especially its track record in checking fund collection of proscribed groups and prosecution of individuals for terrorism.