Pakistan orders seizure of banned outfits' assets

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) - Pakistan issued an order Monday to seize the assets of banned militant outfits and individuals across the country under a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) order.

"The federal government issued the UNSC (Freezing and Seizure) Order 2019 in accordance with the provisions of Pakistan’s UNSC Act, 1948 (Act No XIV of 1948)," said a Foreign Ministry statement.

The development came days after aerial combat between the air forces of longtime rivals Pakistan and India following a militant attack on a military convoy in the disputed Jammu and Kashmir region last month. India blamed the militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) for the brazen attack that killed over 40 troops.

Last month, Pakistan took control of a madrassah in northeastern Bhawalpur city which was allegedly operating as JeM's headquarters.

"The objective of the UNSC (Freezing and Seizure) Order 2019 is to streamline the procedure for implementation of Security Council sanctions against designated individuals and entities," the statement said.

Chapter VII of the UN Charter authorizes the UNSC, acting under Article 41, to decide measures, not involving the use of armed force, to give effect to its decisions for the maintenance of international peace and security.

In Pakistan, such decisions of the Security Council are implemented through the UNSC, 1948 (Act No XIV of 1948).

“Over the years, the sanctions regime of the UNSC has evolved. A key measure of these sanctions regimes is “assets freeze” under which states are required to freeze/seize the assets of designated entities and individuals as soon as they are designated by the relevant UNSC Sanctions Committee", the statement concluded.