Key points
- Proscribed persons to be subject to US travel ban
- Punjab home department names 84 proscribed organisations
- No risk of a US travel ban on Pakistanis: minister
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has said it will update its list of proscribed and banned organisations with input from the United States.
“The government will update its list of proscribed and banned organisations with the help of US agencies, such as the State Department,” said Pakistan’s Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik.
The minister said that people linked to those groups would be subject to travel bans by the US.
On Friday, the Punjab home department released a list of 84 proscribed organisations and urged citizens not to give charity to these unregistered and banned entities.
“Providing any kind of assistance to banned organisations is a crime under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997,” a statement issued by the Punjab government said.
The government will update its list of proscribed and banned organisations with the help of US agencies.” – Pakistan’s Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik
The minister vowed that the law would punish those assisting banned organisations involved in terrorism and anti-state activities.
According to Dawn, Aqeel affirmed that there is no risk of a US travel ban on Pakistanis.
“People need not get worried that there is some visa ban on Pakistan or that they will be denied entry,” he said.
“No ban on Pakistanis”
“We are not looking at an outright ban on Pakistanis entering the US.”
The minister said that lists of banned organisations in both Pakistan and the US need to be updated.
“The list of proscribed groups needs to be updated, and I am sure that the State Department will update their own lists as well,” Aqeel said.
The minister said Pakistani authorities would share information with the US agencies, and based on our list, they would update their lists of banned Pakistani organisations as well.
“Visas may be revoked”
“If any individuals maintain links with these organisations, their entry may be denied, and their visas may be revoked.”
Responding to a question, the minister reiterated that ordinary Pakistanis will not be denied entry to the US.
“I do not believe there will be any blanket ban or restriction on Pakistani nationals travelling to the US,” he stated.
