An anti-terrorism court in the nation, which is battling to get off the FATF’s “grey list,” has sentenced Sajid Majeed Mir, one of India’s most wanted terrorists and the primary organiser of the fatal 2008 Mumbai attacks, who Pakistan had previously reported dead, to more than 15 years in prison.
Mir’s conviction was not announced by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of the Punjab Police, which frequently notifies the media of suspect convictions in similar instances.
Efforts to Get Off ‘Grey List’
His sentencing coincides with Islamabad’s preparations for a site visit by representatives of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
This Paris-based organisation monitors global terrorism financing to confirm the effectiveness of Pakistan’s pertinent anti-money laundering and counterterrorism financing reforms.
A favourable report would make it easier for Pakistan to get off the FATF’s “grey list.”
Sajid Majeed Mir, an activist for the outlawed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), was sentenced to 15 and a half years in prison earlier this month in a case involving the funding of terrorism, according to a top attorney involved in the trials of LeT and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) officials.
Additionally, the media was not permitted because it was an in-camera hearing at the high-security facility.
The attorney added that Mir had been detained in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail since his arrest in April. He said the court also fined the guilty party more than Rs 400,000.
In the past, Pakistani officials had said that he had passed away. Still, Western nations had not been persuaded and had requested confirmation of his passing instead.
Late last year, when FATF evaluated Pakistan’s progress on the action plan, this problem arose as a significant sticking point.
According to the Dawn newspaper on Saturday, this was the point where Mir’s case finally got rolling and resulted in his “arrest”.
Therefore, the document noted that his conviction and punishment were significant accomplishments that Pakistani authorities highlighted in their progress report provided to FATF on its action plan during the most recent plenary.
It further stated that it effectively persuaded FATF members that Pakistan had completed all requirements.
26/11 Attacks
The FBI’s most wanted terrorists list includes 44-year-old Mir. For his involvement in the 26/11 terrorist strikes in Mumbai, the US has set a $5 million reward.
Mir is sought in India for his involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, which resulted in the deaths of 166 people, including six Americans.
To request its removal from the “Grey List” of the international anti-laundering organisation, Pakistan informed the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) before the most recent conference that Sajid Mir had been detained and tried.
Mir was referred to as the attacks on Mumbai’s “project manager.” According to reports, Mir
travelled to India in 2005 using a false passport and name.
According to the FBI, Mir is sought after “for his suspected role in the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks.
Ten LeT militants launched a coordinated series of assaults against several Mumbai targets, including hotels, cafés, and a train station, starting on November 26, 2008, lasting until November 29, 2008, killing almost 170 people.
“During the three-day onslaught, six Americans died. Mir is said to have been the assault’s main organiser, supervising the setup and surveillance and acting as one of the controllers from Pakistan throughout the assault.
In addition, between 2008 and 2009, Mir reportedly planned a terrorist act against a newspaper and its staff in Denmark,” it added.
“Mir was charged with conspiring to damage the property of a foreign government, giving material support to terrorists, killing a US citizen abroad, aiding and abetting, and bombing public places in the US District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Chicago, Illinois, on April 21, 2011. On April 22, 2011, an arrest warrant was issued.
In June 2018, the FATF put Pakistan on its “grey list” and requested that Islamabad implement a strategy to combat money laundering.
According to a statement released on June 17 by the international organisation that monitors money laundering and terrorism funding, the FATF stated that Pakistan would remain on the “Grey List” of nations subject to enhanced scrutiny.
After a site visit to confirm the execution of Pakistan’s reforms on fighting terror-financing methods, it was said that Pakistan might be removed from the list.
With the assistance of its close friends like China, Turkey, and Malaysia, Pakistan has so far managed to stay off the black list.
