Nisar directs NACTA to prepare plan for security of judges

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ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has directed National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) to prepare a framework for establishing VVIP Security Desk at NACTA for provision of foolproof security to superior judiciary in coordination with law enforcement agencies and provincial home departments.

The superior judiciary includes judges of Supreme Court and judges of High Courts of all provinces.

The Interior Minister also directed NACTA to take a lead role for introducing “Obligatory Money Declaration Form” in coordination with FIA, making it mandatory for all international incoming and outgoing passengers to declare their money, a new policy initiative for countering terrorism financing and money-laundering.

The Interior Minister also reviewed security arrangements, being made for the forthcoming SAARC Interior Ministers Conference.

The minister also directed NACTA to work out a policy with  the State Bank of Pakistan for bringing the threshold limit of reported transactions of Rs 2.5 million to Rs 1 million, spokesman for the Interior Ministery quoted the minister as saying.

Currently as per State Bank of Pakistan’s guidelines Suspicious Transaction Record, including attempted transactions, are to be reported by Banks and private financial entities which crosses the threshold limit of Rs. 2.5 million as per requirements of Anti-Money Laundering Act.

The Interior Minister was chairing a meeting here on Wednesday, also attended by Secretary Interior, Special Secretary Interior, National Coordinator NACTA, Chairman Nadra, and Director General Immigration and Passport.

“A policy must be framed for introducing this counter terrorism financing measure across all international airports,” Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan passed the orders to National Coordinator NACTA.

The Obligatory Money Declaration form should clearly state the punishments as mentioned in the Anti-Money Laundering Act, noted the Interior Minister.

The minister also directed to take private entities like banks and large scale registered money transfer agencies on board through FIA to share data and information about transactions crossing an amount of Rs one million.

The minister also directed NACTA to establish a Central Counter Financing Digital Database to monitor suspicious accounts and transactions.

This Digital Data-bank, he said, should provide information and data to any law enforcement agency on need basis.

He said that data of registered money transfer entities should also be saved with the central data registry helping the authorities to keep a close watch on shady amount transfers.

Over the progress of CNIC re-verification, the Interior Minister was informed that during the first 20 days of the drive, NADRA has been able to verify 1.9 million family heads thereby confirming the authenticity of 7.7 million CNICs.

It was informed that 1.3 million citizens have checked their family trees by sending SMS on 8008 while NADRA has sent messages to around 586900 citizens.

It was informed that NADRA has received 36000 objections so far wherein over 13000 have been identified as aliens/intruders.