Paper proscriptions

THE Punjab government’s decision to publicly list 89 banned and unregistered groups, and to warn citizens against donating to them, is a welcome move. During Ramazan, when charity peaks, reminding the public that funding banned outfits is a crime under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, is both timely and necessary. Making the list accessible and providing helplines to report suspicious fundraising shows administrative seriousness. But let us not mistake paperwork for progress. Pakistan has, over the years, produced several inventories of proscribed groups. Many of the names in the latest notification have featured on such lists for decades. Yet several of these outfits have repeatedly proved they can survive. They rebrand, splinter, form welfare fronts, or operate through ostensibly charitable trusts. The names change but the leadership, infrastructure and ideology often remain intact.

If the state has formally banned these entities, it implies there is sufficient evidence of involvement in terrorism or anti-state activity. The logical next step should be aggressive, visible enforcement. That means prosecuting leaders and financiers, not merely notifying the public. It means freezing bank accounts and scrutinising suspicious transactions with financial tools. It means preventing these groups from organising rallies, recruiting supporters, or using social media to spread propaganda under new guises. It means dismantling the logistical and financial ecosystems that allow them to persist. Merely warning citizens not to donate places the burden disproportionately on the public, while the state fails to carry out meaningful enforcement. The average donor cannot be expected to navigate a maze of aliases and front organisations. That responsibility rests with the state. There is also a credibility issue at stake. When banned outfits are seen holding public gatherings, collecting funds or resurfacing under fresh banners, it sends the damaging signal that proscription is symbolic rather than substantive. This perception weakens counterterrorism policy and erodes public trust. Pakistan has paid a grievous price in blood over decades of terrorism. Tens of thousands of civilians and security personnel have been martyred. Against that backdrop, publishing lists is only the first step. The real test lies in sustained action on the ground, which means consistent prosecutions, asset seizures, disruption of networks and zero tolerance for rebranded extremism. Without that resolve, today’s list risks becoming just another document, and worse, tomorrow’s threat.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2026

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