What is terrorism financing?

• Fundraising for terrorism purposes is a punishable offense under Article 11H of the Pakistan Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

The unprecedented sentence of Jamatud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and his aide Malik Zafar Iqbal for five and half years on Wednesday for terrorism financing, which comes as Pakistan is facing a stiff FATF (Financial Action Task Force) deadline.

This is the first time in Pakistan that a banned party chief has been convicted of raising money for terrorism. Fundraising for terrorism purposes is a punishable offense under Article 11H of the Pakistan Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

Indirect or direct collection of money, collection of goods or property and the encouragement to collect money for terrorism fall under the guise of this crime.

Under this clause, a person who motivates other to provide money and other goods and knows or intends to use the money and property for terrorism will be considered guilty. Similarly, if a person raises money for these purposes, then this section of the Terrorism Act will apply.

The ATC convicted both leaders under sections 11-N of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 and sentenced them to five years Rigorous Imprisonment (RI) with fine of Rs10,000 each and six months RI under section 11-F (2) of the Act with a fine. Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) had registered the two FIRs, one each in Lahore and Gujranwala, against both convicts under sections 11-F (5) (6), 11-H2, 11-I, 11-J and 11-N of the ATA 1997.

Meanwhile, The FATF's five-day plenary session begins in Paris from February 16. As per details, it will be decided at the meeting whether Pakistan will remain on the grey list or will leave it.