FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE AND ITS BARRIERS IN THE INVESTIGATION PROCESS OF COUNTERING THE FINANCING OF TERRORISM IN PAKISTAN

The study was performed with the principal focus on exploring gaps in the investigation process of countering the financing of terrorism in Pakistan. The study used a qualitative method to explore the barriers of investigation in financing terrorism. A set of 25 participants was selected purposively and interviewed through an in-depth, semi-structured interview guide. The thematic analysis technique was utilized for the findings and unearthing the gaps/reasons for failure in an investigation of countering the financing of terrorism in Pakistan. There were gaps explored in terms of securing prosecutable evidence in the investigation processes of money laundering. The major elements behind terrorist financing are found to be money transferred through Hawala, income generation through Chanda/donations, less or no access to traditional funding, the absence of effective monitoring on the national level, and poor access to the digital economy. The researchers recommend that such elements need to be controlled and be brought in line with that of FATF's to improve the image of Pakistan. Keywords: Anti-money laundering; Financial Intelligence; barriers; qualitative research