November 2, 2018

The US has called on Pakistan to enact legislation to formally ban the Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) & Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF), both fronts for the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founded by Hafiz Saeed, following the lapse of a presidential ordinance that proscribed the groups earlier this year.

Saeed, who was placed under house arrest for almost 10 months last year, has continued to raise funds for JuD & FIF and call for jihad in Kashmir at public rallies & meetings.

Pakistan’s failure to ban JuD & FIF after they were sanctioned under UN Security Council resolution 1267 prompted several Western powers to put the country on its “grey list” of nations that are not doing enough to counter terror financing.

In February, Pakistan’s then president Mamnoon Hussain issued an ordinance to amend the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997 to proscribe terrorist individuals & organisations sanctioned under UN Security Council resolution 1267. The move was primarily aimed at JuD & FIF, which were only on a “watch list” maintained by Pakistan’s interior ministry. Despite the ordinance, FATF opted to put Pakistan on its watch list in June.

The state department spokesperson underlined the importance of Pakistan complying with its obligations under UN Security Council resolution 1267, which requires countries to freeze assets, enforce a travel ban, & cut off access to arms for sanctioned individuals & groups.

“As we have said before, the US is deeply concerned that this development will jeopardise Pakistan’s ability to meet its commitments under UN Security Council resolution 1267 to freeze & prevent the raising & moving of funds belonging to or associated with UN-designated terrorist groups,” the spokesperson said.

Baqir Sajjad of Pakistan’s DawnNews channel was critical of Islamabad’s handling of the issue. “The ordinance that provided for harmonising the national list of proscribed individuals & groups with the UNSC list was promulgated in February to pre-empt grey listing by FATF,” said Sajjad.

“Later the then government tabled it in the National Assembly for legislation, but neither the legislation happened nor the ordinance was extended,” said Sajjad.

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