Rehman Malik-led Senate committee condemns FATF for discrimination
Islamabad: Senate Standing Committee on Interior has strongly condemned the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for discrimination with Pakistan while dealing the India with immunity as no action against is being taken against India despite of all evidence against it.
The meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior was held in Parliament House under the chairmanship of Senator A. Rehman Malik. The meeting was attended by Senator Muhammad Javed Abbasi, Senator Kalsoom Parveen, Senator Shibli Faraz, Senator Haji Momin Khan Afridi, and Senator Muhammad Ateeq Shaikh and by senior officials from Ministry of Interior, Law and Justice, Home Secretary Punjab, KPK and Sindh, Mayor MCI and senior officials from CDA and also Police officials from KPK, AJK, Sindh and Punjab. The Committee strongly condemned “unprovoked” Indian aggression across the Line of Control (LoC), termed it against the regional peace and Fateha was recited for the martyrs of Pakistan Army. The Committee lauded Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Navy for their response to the Indian aggression. Chairman Committee observed that armed forces have responded with professionalism and the whole nation stands united for the defence of the country.
The Committee discussed in detail the agenda point of discussion on the briefing by the Mayor, MCI and Chairman, CDA on the progress made so far to solve administrative, financial and legal issues of the MCI. Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior Senator A. Rehman Malik said that he was hurt that despite of conducting multiple meetings over the issue to resolve all outstanding issues between MCI and CDA, yet no progress was made in this regard. He said that the matter was taken up in the meeting held on 8th November, 2018 and had asked both Capital Development Authority (CDA) & Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) to resolve their administrative, financial and legal issues and submit a report to the committee. He said that Mayor of Islamabad has always reported about the non-cooperation of CDA with MCI which is not in the interest of the capital city and also people living there. He expressed anger and said that the Committee has noticed that no serious effort has been made to resolve the issues being faced by the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI).
Senator Rehman Malik said that in this regard he has written a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan to come up with a solution to the outstanding problems between the two institutions. He said that he in his letter has written to PM Imran Khan “I would like to draw your attention to a matter referred by the Senate House to the Senate Standing Committee on Interior to resolve certain disputes between (Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) and Capital Development Authority (CDA).” He writes in letter to PM that the matter was referred by the Committee to the Secretary, Ministry of Interior and a Sub-Committee was constituted under the Convener-ship of Senator Shibli Faraz, Leader of the House and undertaking was given to the Committee that the matter will be resolved. Letter says that the recommendations of the Committee made in its meeting held on 8th November, 2019 are reproduced as under:-
The Committee recommended unanimously, to nominate Honorable Senator Syed Shibli Faraz, Leader of the House, as Co-coordinator with the Capital Development Authority (CDA), Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI), Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Finance, Establishment Division and other stakeholders to resolve the following issues within one week accordingly i.e Administrative issues, Financial issues and Notification of the Rules of Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) as purposed by the Ministry of Interior.
In the letter Senator A. Rehman Malik has requested Prime Minister Imran Khan to please look into this mater in person to resolve the disputes between CDA and MCI at your level to avoid public inconvenience. This dispute is affecting the efficiency of the CDA and MCI as well, he added.
Senator A. Rehman Malik said that he hopes that PM Imran Khan will personally look into the matter to bring an end to differences between the two organizations. The Chairman Committee has come to the conclusion that provision of the required funds and issuance of the Notification of the Rules for Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) can avert the imminent catastrophic situation of the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI), Islamabad being faced at present.
He said that the Committee recommended unanimously, to nominate Honorable Senator Syed Shibli Faraz, Leader of the House, as Co-ordinator and Senator Muhammad Ateeq Shaikh as member with the Capital Development Authority (CDA), Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI), Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Finance, Establishment Division and other stakeholders to resolve Administrative issues, Financial issues and ensure the issuance of Notification of the Rules of Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) as purposed by the Ministry of Interior. Senator A. Rehman Malik stressed upon the Prime Minister of Pakistan and heads of both bodies to resolve frictional, legal and administrative issues promptly in the best interest of the city.
The Senate Standing Committee on Interior in its meeting expressed great annoyance and strongly FATF for discriminating Pakistan while dealing the India with immunity as no action so far was being taken against India despite of all evidences of terror financing and money laundering. Chairman Senator A. Rehman Malik said that he had written a letter to the President FATF a letter to President FATF Marshall Billingslea on February 14, 2019 demanding to take action against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for protecting international fugitives involved in biggest ever credit fraud and money launder. He said that he had sent the letter with all evidences proving that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was involved money laundering and terror financing as he is supporting RSS- the biggest terrorist organization.
He said that on February 18th 2019, the President FATF acknowledged my letter in response and writes “The FATF has no investigative or prosecutorial functions, and is not in a position to give a legal opinion on this situation”. He said that if FATF cannot open a case against PM Narendra Modi for terror financing and money laundering then how is it running a case against Pakistan and has put its name in ‘grey list’. He said that today he has written another letter to President FATF in response of his letter explaining how much legal it is that a stern action should be taken against PM Narendra Modi.
In his letter to President FATF, Senator A. Rehman Malik writes “I thankfully acknowledging receipt of your response to my letter dated 14th February 2019 (Copy enclosed). In your response, you have intimated that holding any formal inquiry/investigation on a complaint does not fall within the mandate of the FATF. It was intimated that FATF is a Policy making body & was hence unable to undertake investigation against India. However, I would like to draw your kind attention towards the mandate of the FATF, a copy of which is being attached herewith for ready reference. It is a matter of record of FATF that a formal Inquiry against Pakistan was initiated based on a complaint from United States alleging Pakistan’s involvement in terror funding and money laundering and consequently, FATF placed Pakistan on the Grey List. Therefore, the stance taken by the FATF vis-à-vis my complaint against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not based on facts and practice of the FATF. I had complained against him for his involvement in patronizing and protecting international fugitives for money laundering and credit frauds, in the capacity of a parliamentarian and Chairman of Senate Standing Committee on Interior. I had complained against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government with undeniable evidence but I got disappointed to note that FATF has brushed aside my complaint on the question of mandate/jurisdiction”.
Senator A. Rehman Malik has asked President FATF to initiate an inquiry against PM Narendra Modi and writes “I would like to reiterate once again to kindly initiate a usual inquiry against Indian Prime Minister and his government on my complaint as was done in the case of Pakistan on the complaint of USA”. He said that this Committee demands the Government of Pakistan to lodge a strong protest against FATF for its discriminatory treatment towards Pakistan. He said that the Senate Standing Committee protests against the appointment of India as Head of the Asia Pacific Group of FATF. He said we demand that in view of the gross discrimination against Pakistan, the name of Pakistan should be withdrawn from the “Grey List” forthwith. Senator A. Rehman Malik directed the Ministry of Interior to arrange an in-camera meeting on the Indian dossier on Pulwama Attack, steps government has taken so far to counter Indian false allegations in FATF and on latest position of the case of Indian RAW agent Kulbushan Yadav.
Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior Senator A. Rehman Malik said that the point of public importance of Q.No.56, regarding “the names of other details of persons who went missing in the country during the last ten years” was referred to the committee by the house and the issue was raised by Senator Muhammad Usman Khan Kakar. The meeting was briefed by Justice (retd) Fazalur Rehman, the senior member of the Commission on Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, Home Secretary Punjab, Additional IG Police KPK and AJK. Senator A. Rehman Malik said that he has received the detail that the number of Missing persons dealt with by the Commission from March 2011 to 31st Dec, 2018 are 3551. He said that as per the details, 1577 returned home, 691 are confined in Internment Centers, 440 are in different jails for terrorism and criminal charges and 184 dead bodies were found and 659 were not cases of enforced disappearances. Senator A. Rehman Malik said that the Commission on Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances has a very limited jurisdiction and the Committee is there to extend its assistance to empower the commission both financially and legally. He applauded the Chairman, members and secretary of Commission on Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances for their efforts and work despite of limited resources. Province wise details of missing persons were shared with the committee. He directed the Ministry of Interior to amend the provision of clause to notify the Commission for once and for a longer time rather to notify the extension of the commission every six months.
Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior Senator A. Rehman Malik had taken a very serious notice of the ongoing target killing in D I Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said that he was hurt by the news that in alone two months more than twenty people were killed in DI Khan. He said that KPK Police seems failed in protecting the lives of common people in DI Khan who are being put to death in day light on daily basis. He directed that the KPK Police must bring an end to this ongoing target killing and take fierce actions against terrorists and organizations behind killing of innocent people there.
He said that the committee took notice of the issue on the information provided by ex-Deputy Speaker National Assembly Faisal Karim Kundi as local there are concerned about ongoing incidents of target killings. He directed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Home Secretary and IG Police to submit reports to the committee in its next meeting and also appear in person to brief the body on the target killings in DI Khan. He said that in the next meeting of the committee religious scholars from different schools of thought, political representatives, and victim families of the martyrs and notables of the area shall also be invited to the committee to discuss the issue in detail and find its permanent solution.
He directed the KPK Police to accept the target killing in DI Khan as a challenge and bring an end to it by identifying and eliminating the elements involved in it. He said that he believes terrorist organizations are behind such heinous acts of target killings as there is no sectarianism in the country. KPK Police told the committee that stern actions are being taken against the terrorists and the organizations involved in target killing in DI Khan and said that many of them have been arrested and some were killed in encounters.
