ISLAMABAD- Unfortunately in Pakistan, ideological misunderstanding of religion and Shariah has created more loopholes and affected the implementation of laws like anti-money laundering and there was dire need to sensitise people, build up capacity and implementation of this law more effectively. These were the views of the participants at an important conference on Tuesday titled Money Laundering and Implications for Counter-terrorism Efforts. Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) organised the conference. The participants stressed the need to bring improvements in the existing Anti-Money Laundering Law to become it more effective. Khalid Masood, former chairman, Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) while presenting the ideological aspects of money laundering & violence against the people and said that the terms used in Islam for money laundering are 'to abuse or 'to trespass. He said that ideological differences create a hurdle in effective implementation of anti-money laundering laws. He said that ideological misunderstanding of the Shariah has created more loopholes, affected laws, and affected implementation of laws as well as education about laws. Violence against masses in terms of terrorism and suicide bombing is ideologically justified with reference to religion by some groups but justifying crimes ideologically cannot make them lawful, he added. He termed the problem of money laundering both ideological and legal. He viewed that most of the people thought that Zakat refined any persons money but if the money was earned from illegal means, how it could be refined from Zakat. He also quoted a Saudi religious leader who gave decree that if a person sent money earned from illegal means to some other for the performance of Haj, it would not affect his performance of religious duty. He termed this kind of belief as totally baseless. Dr Babar Awan, Federal Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, who was the chief guest in the first session of the conference, emphasised the need to have a global broad based-consensus to reach a comprehensive definition of money laundering. Most of the reported cases of money laundering are false as political victimisation dominates them, the Minister said. He was of the opinion that countries like Pakistan needed to document their economy at multiple levels filling the black holes, as there was no documentation for money used in charity or donations. He also sought recommendations from PILDAT on Implementation on Anti Money-Laundering Act 2010. Syed Mansoor Ali, Senior Joint Director, Financing Monitoring Unit, State Bank of Pakistan, gave his presentation on Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Domestic and International Initiatives. He said that Pakistan did not have adequate laws to check the in or out flow of cash money at airports and the Government was considering to review this part of existing Act. Ahmer Bilal Sufi, President Research Society of International Law, was of the view that this conference would serve to further launch and strengthen anti-money laundering campaign as the law was good but it lacks implementation. Ayla Majid, a financial consultant, while speaking on the topic said that money laundering not only posed physical threat but also economic threat to the countrys economy. She said that such type of money did not attract any law and had no role in the countrys economy, in GDP ratio and development as well. Malik Azmat Khan, MNA and Chairman, National Assembly Standing Committee on Economic Affairs and Statistics stressed the need of capacity building inside and outside the Parliament. Earlier presenting his welcome remarks, Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, Executive Director PILDAT, said that money laundering itself was a crime. Pakistan needs to be vigilant about the twin menace of money laundering and terrorist financing. As the technology develops further and global conditions change, new steps may be taken, including updating of the relevant laws, to keep pace with the international community and to meet the new challenges. Pakistans Parliament, civil society and media should exercise their oversight functions to help the Government in meeting the objectives of anti-money laundering laws and institutions established to counter terrorist financing.