It’s difficult to trace fund transactions to seminaries, says Nisar
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ISLAMABAD: The government has admitted that despite the presence of laws monitoring the working of religious seminaries, it often becomes difficult to trace the money transacted to madressahs from abroad.
“Some madressahs are receiving financial support from Muslim countries. However, it is often difficult to trace the transaction of such money,” Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said in a written reply to a question asked by PPP’s Sughra Imam in the Senate on Tuesday.
Also read: Action likely against seminaries involved in militancy
The questioner did not get the opportunity to ask any supplementary question as the chairman suspended the question hour to take up the 21st Constitution Amendment Bill.
The Senate’s library staff removed the annexures containing details of seminaries from the table immediately after the suspension of the question hour.
In his written reply, the interior minister said that laws under which madressahs had been registered were devolved to the provinces under the 18th Amendment, putting the responsibility on provincial governments for implementation of the laws.
He said there was “sufficient control and vigilance” within these laws to monitor the working of seminaries, including checking their financial sources and conducting audit.
The minister said that the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2013 was dedicated to tracking down illegal transactions.
The PPP senator had asked the minister if the seminaries were receiving from some Muslim countries financial and other supports like training of clerics and teachers and development of curriculum.
“The ministry is cognisant of some madressahs and particular classification may be associated with these in terms of security and foreign funding,” Chaudhry Nisar said.
In reply to a question, he disclosed that the federal government had spent Rs10.06 billion on maintaining law and order in the country since January 2013.
Published in Dawn, January 7th, 2015
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Comments (61) Closed
Jan 07, 2015 06:42am
We need to expose these countries by publishing the names!
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Jan 07, 2015 06:47am
Well the logical course of action is to shut down those madrassas that have unknown sources of income
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Jan 07, 2015 06:51am
everything is difficult for him.
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Jan 07, 2015 07:14am
If you know the madrasahs that receives money from abroad (i.e Saudi Arabia) but you can't stop it. just lose the madrasah. period. Actually, Pakistan has too many madrasahs. we need to close all or at least 90% of them and open regular schools. Get rid of all of these illiterate clerics.
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Jan 07, 2015 07:20am
If it's too difficult, resign
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Jan 07, 2015 07:29am
CONTRADICTIONS? Just look at two extracts from the article:
“Some madressahs are receiving financial support from Muslim countries .. often difficult to trace the transaction of such money,” BUT THEN "He said there was “sufficient control and vigilance” within these laws to monitor the working of seminaries, including checking their financial sources and conducting audit." WHAT TO BELIEVE?
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Jan 07, 2015 08:06am
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, I can not accept your statement "It’s difficult to trace fund transactions to seminaries". It is not that difficult to trace any fund transactions. If you do not want to trace it, that is different story. In the interest of Pakistan, no foreign government, organization or an individual should be allowed to provide any financial support to a seminary without full knowledge of the government.
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Jan 07, 2015 08:07am
Summon the gulf countries ambassador to stop financing the madrassahs directly. Any funding should be done through the government to government contacts.
Ch.Nisar is just ignoring the elephant in the room. Jail Aziz and shutdown Jamia Hafsa. Half of the problems will be sorted out.
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Jan 07, 2015 08:25am
Ask the world how to do it.
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Jan 07, 2015 08:28am
It is very much possible by placing seminaries under Ministry of Education and appointment of government accountants there. Detailed accounts need to be maintained both for income and expenditure.
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Jan 07, 2015 08:44am
No one in Pakistan will believe this. Where there is will there is a way unless the interior minister is afraid that funds accountability will uncover names and countries he or the PM does not want to uncover unless funds are being smuggled into Pakistan and then being converted to what ever currency also illegally. Laws are all there but no one follows them from top to bottom.
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Jan 07, 2015 09:03am
Make it easy Mr.Interior Minister. It'a a matter of life death for the country.
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Jan 07, 2015 09:09am
@Siddha Its the Oil rich countries
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Jan 07, 2015 09:15am
Nisar is among so many Goebels of PML-N as their make up is twisting the facts to manoeuvre their fraudulent de jure government sans the masses uplift for which they are supposed to rule over!
Yes they are ruling over ruthlessly.
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Jan 07, 2015 09:21am
If there is a will there are LOTS of ways......the fact of the matter is you are just too scared to name brother Middle East countries. There is no love for his own country.
Shame...
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Jan 07, 2015 09:24am
@Mohammed Abbasi "Well the logical course of action is to shut down those madrassas that have unknown sources of income"
And that can happen as soon as the system shuts down those people [Zardari/ Sharif / even some military people] who have 'unknown' sources of wealth.
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Jan 07, 2015 09:27am
shut them.
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Jan 07, 2015 09:32am
This shows sorely incapability of the government.
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Jan 07, 2015 09:39am
Chaudhry sahb you know all thing, because you are Interior Minister, 90% madarssah's are involved in terrorism.
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Jan 07, 2015 09:40am
Mr. Nisar has bravely admitted the incapability of the Government. Like his colleague the Health Minister! who, a few days before, came up with the same excuse while replying to the questions in the legislative assembly on food adulteration. I humbly ask the honorable minister. Who is then responsible to act?
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Jan 07, 2015 10:00am
Every task except corruption is difficult for the government. Give it to Army as well..
Is it so difficult for government to see fortified madrassas with gun wielding body guards of mullahs travelling in landcruisers.
Just ask them to submit in written the source of income, or Shut them down immediately.
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Jan 07, 2015 10:05am
Does it mean that civilian government is as incapable as is civil judiciary? Such goofs are ruling us and we are still alive. Astonishing
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Jan 07, 2015 10:17am
Where there is will there is a way.
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Jan 07, 2015 10:25am
The entire world has developed systems and controls for identifying money trails for remittances, legal or undocumented, to legitimate and/or undesirable recipients of funds from abroad. Indeed, Government of Pakistan and all regulatory and financial institutions have been assisting say, the US with some of its such complicated legislation as FATCA. Anyone who has worked in a bank or a financial institution is aware of how such inward remittances (or even the outward ones) can not only be traced, but also totally stopped. Unfortunately, the vested interests involved in this business, which includes overt or covert support and participation of those in power, prevents regulatory authorities to put their heart and soul in curbing such nefarious activity. The interior minister should be looking for solutions closer home than hiding behind the devolution caused by the 18th Amendment. International Financial transactions, documented or not, fall under the jurisdiction of the Federal Government through the State Bank of Pakistan, which has all the powers, but perhaps not the will, to put an end to dubious transference of funds from and into Pakistan.
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Jan 07, 2015 10:26am
Unfortunately, the funding source is common- hence no action.
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Jan 07, 2015 10:35am
Once the Arabs came to South East Asia and captured the area and converted the people to their faith and now when money can contro people and countries, they are using their money and those people to kill for them. What a shame. What a shame that nomads Arabs are controlling us.
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Jan 07, 2015 10:37am
@SK "Never believe anything unless it is officially denied". Start with this and you will understand all.
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Jan 07, 2015 10:37am
Well done Mr Interior minister,Keep it up!
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Jan 07, 2015 10:38am
It appears that this man cannot handle the ministry. Please try another person.
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Jan 07, 2015 10:40am
Not a hidden secret who these brethren of Yousef are,most of the Middle East
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Jan 07, 2015 10:48am
it often becomes difficult to trace the money transacted not only to madressahs but to the corrupt ministers as well...Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence.
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Jan 07, 2015 10:58am
Ofcourse everything is difficult when there are incompetent people sitting at the top.
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Jan 07, 2015 10:59am
Clear example of incompetent government. They are proudly admitting their incompetency. Shame on the people who elect them.
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Jan 07, 2015 11:04am
What is important is that the madrasas should not be involved in militancy which is a vestige of the proxy war waged by the West against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. Otherwise, the madrasas providing religious education to children have always been part of Islamic culture and this practice cannot be stopped in a Muslim country. If generous people from brotherly Muslims countries help the poor students then it should be welcome.
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Jan 07, 2015 11:05am
Difficult or not it is the responsibility of the Govt to curb this practice. Though you did not show chracter to resigned after the Peshawer Tragedy. At least dedicate your life ensuring culprits are brought to justice and similar incidents are avoided in future
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Jan 07, 2015 11:07am
@shezad very nice
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Jan 07, 2015 11:09am
Banning madrasad is not the solition.
First we will have to establish our govt school structure to give proper stay and bilingiual edication. Islam and science.madrasas are not bad using madrasas is bad.
Its only ppropaganda to eradicate islmic ideology.
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Jan 07, 2015 11:14am
You can stop madressash by giving
free education to all children
And you can build motor ways later
Give good health system before building metro system.
why is it so difficult to know how the money laundering system works.
how difficult is to know who has black money in the country.
you just don't want to do anything be people in the government won't let you.
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Jan 07, 2015 11:31am
Is there anything these governments of Nawaz and Zardari can do - beside foreign trips and money laundering?
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Jan 07, 2015 11:32am
Because it's the same way the Government transfers funds into their personal accounts perhaps????
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Jan 07, 2015 11:33am
........and the cover up starts, the very next day.
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Jan 07, 2015 11:34am
It is also diffiicult to trace how pakistani politicians purchased flats/villas in Dubai, Jeddah,London, New york and elsewhere
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Jan 07, 2015 11:34am
Yes we knew your competence..tell something new.
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Jan 07, 2015 12:01pm
He should resign from this post, how can he say it is Difficult?, some real professionals should be hired so they can guide them how to control it, everything is possible if there is will....
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Jan 07, 2015 12:20pm
@Saeed This has more to do with the absolute "unwillingness" of the government to cope with such situation, "incapability" where one attempts to do something but they can't do it, in our case our government doesn't bother to take any action. Instead such people are being protected by our government for reasons best known to them.
Our Interior minister knows that some madressahs are being funded by some Muslim countries but he goes on to say "However, it is often difficult to trace the transaction of such money". Who are you trying to fool Mr. Minister? obviously you have traced the transactions that's why you know that these are funded by Muslim countries.
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Jan 07, 2015 12:25pm
Nisar is Inter minister but passing comments on financial matters. No wonder he has no clue about internal security.
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Jan 07, 2015 12:54pm
Govt should focus on funding sources of NGOs. They are the bigger culprit in secretly funding discent in the country.
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Jan 07, 2015 12:57pm
@Saeed
Calling the civilian leaders goof alone is something half vision of the picture. What Musharraf and his associates has given us will take centuries to cure. Infact we have a dearth of leadership in every sphere of life.
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Jan 07, 2015 01:40pm
People of Pakistan want to pay salary and perks to only those personnel who are competent and capable of delivering results.
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Jan 07, 2015 02:10pm
True it is difficult to trace these transactions as you'll are the main beneficiary to it as inward transfers and outward transfers. It happens on a daily basis in your banks and at money changers. As we have a system inter bank transactions where millions of rupees are deposit today and withdrawn after a minute . This what we call money laundering. There is no check and balances in our banking system. Do what you feel like, as long as the banks have huge deposits, no questions asked.
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Jan 07, 2015 02:54pm
@shezad jailing does not do the job as the French Revolution well proved long time ago. Read about Donatien Alphonse Francois DeSade.
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Jan 07, 2015 02:57pm
@Asim Munir Sorry, that requires more humility than what is bread by hierarchical
arrogance.
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Jan 07, 2015 03:04pm
@Riaz you can do that if you can get the shopkeepers, thalay walas and unregistered businesses in general to keep and submit detailed accounts to accountants. After all isn't the black economy designed to be infinite.
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Jan 07, 2015 03:06pm
@Pervaiz Lodhie the laws were made only because they could not be implemented.
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Jan 07, 2015 03:18pm
@Massood Ahmad Khan We are witnessing the adulthood of our indigenous version of the Prussian personality that was born in 1947 after being incubated for 42 unhealthy years.
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Jan 07, 2015 03:37pm
How its difficult? if there is will!
all banks have called "money trail" to check money laundering and its source, if its not trackable in the chain then its suspecious transaction and should be witheld by state bank FULL STOP. Cash deposits should only be allowed in limited amounts unless they have proof of source of money!
Crack down on illegal money transfer companies/individuals
Make a law to sieze cash in anyones premises until they they provide evidence its legal!
These are general rule most countries follow. Whats difficult in it if you wish to implement, problem is most politicians and businessmen will come under it, thats making "difficult" for you!
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Jan 07, 2015 03:50pm
It is tough and but is doable. Stop dealing in cash.
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Jan 07, 2015 04:00pm
its easy... ask forensic accountants. What kind of interior minister is he..? nothing is impossible if you are determined to stop it it can be minimised if not eleminated. Nisar if you were people mandated elected you would not talk like this.
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Jan 07, 2015 04:07pm
Interior minister has failed to do his job so far.
PTI march saga in Islamabad.
Mullah of red mosque
now the funds tracking
Karachi (Layari)
APS peshawar
And the list goes on and on.
Why is he IM when all he is doing is eating up tax payers money in pay and perks and does nothing in return. He can be perfectly replaced by a spokesperson as that will be cheaper for tax payers.
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Jan 07, 2015 04:17pm
"It’s difficult to trace fund transactions to seminaries, says Nisar"
No its not. You don't have the will to do it because you are afraid of what you will find and how to handle it.
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Jan 07, 2015 04:20pm
We need to print the names of people and countries who are destabilising Pakistan .
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