Some powers desire to keep sword of FATF hanging over Pakistan: F.M Qureshi

[N.Siddiqui]

Some powers desire to keep sword of FATF hanging over Pakistan: Qureshi
Dawn.comPublished June 26, 2021 - Updated about 4 hours ago
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Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said it needed to be looked into whether FATF was "being used for political purposes". — APP/File

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday questioned the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) decision to continue to keep Pakistan on the watchdog's "increased monitoring list", also known as the grey list, despite implementation on 26 out of 27 points included in the original action plan.

In a statement, Qureshi said there was "no room" to keep Pakistan on the grey list after it had implemented nearly the entire action plan, according to a report by Radio Pakistan.

The foreign minister said it needed to be looked into whether FATF was "being used for political purposes", adding "some powers desire to keep the sword of FATF hanging over Pakistan."
It was yet to be determined whether the FATF was a technical forum or a political one, the statement quoted him as saying.
Qureshi said whatever steps Pakistan took were in its own interests, emphasising that it was in Pakistan's interest to stop money laundering and terror financing.

Read: FATF's decision to retain Pakistan on grey list raises eyebrows

A day earlier, FATF President Dr Marcus Pleyer said Pakistan would remain on the grey list till it addresses the single remaining item on the original action plan agreed to in June 2018 as well as all items on a parallel action plan handed out by the watchdog's regional partner — the Asia Pacific Group (APG) — in 2019.

"Pakistan has made significant progress and it has largely addressed 26 out of 27 items on the action plan it first committed to in June 2018," he said at a virtual press conference after the financial watchdog's five-day plenary meeting.
Pleyer, however, added that the item on financial terrorism still needed to be addressed which concerned the "investigation and prosecution of senior leaders and commanders of UN-designated terror groups".

He said Pakistan was still "failing to effectively implement the global FATF standards" across a number of areas.
When asked about the new action plan after the APG evaluation, Pleyer said the plan had "six action items including enhancing international cooperation and demonstrating that assistance is being sought from foreign countries in implementing UN Security Council designations".

Pleyer said even after the last remaining item on the original action plan was addressed, delisting would not occur as there was a parallel action plan that was also given.

Some powers desire to keep sword of FATF hanging over Pakistan: Qureshi

Says it is yet to be determined whether FATF is a technical or a political forum.

www.dawn.com

 

[Vapnope]

Our failure to not do the needful structural changes in our economy and now they will arm twist us because they know look for easy way outs.
Domestic tax collection is still being mishandled by FBR and bigger fish continue to enjoy tax heavens while working class is paying heavy taxes on all commodities.
Pakistan should explore more ways to open trade with Iran, China, Russia and Bangladesh.

 

[N.Siddiqui]

Pakistan need to start talking more about FATF being used as a political tool to discredit her, Keeping mum will only make it worst.


With Pakistan being more compliant than many countries not on the grey list, #FATF's own credibility is on the line and not Pakistan's. This time FATF has to prove that it's not a geopolitical blackmailing tool as suspected by many.

 

[Cash GK]

Thanks God Pakistani realise it is political watchdog. They have been doing this and they will keep doing this. Dont follow them. They can not do nothing. Stop helping usa and ask them use their power.

 

[Ali_Baba]

I think it is important to Pakistan to now change the narrative - ie outright reject any new additions where those requirments are not being asked of by other countries. ie " parallel action plan handed out by the watchdog's regional partner — the Asia Pacific Group (APG) — in 2019." which we not part of the original plan.

It has become a political tool for sure.

Who are the countries who are still voting to keep Pakistan in the "grey list" ? Has there been a vote ?

 

[Kambojaric]

Pakistan need to start talking more about FATF being used as a political tool to discredit her, Keeping mum will only make it worst.


With Pakistan being more compliant than many countries not on the grey list, #FATF's own credibility is on the line and not Pakistan's. This time FATF has to prove that it's not a geopolitical blackmailing tool as suspected by many.

Agreed. Qureishi is hinting here to FATF that if we don't get off the grey list next time then our next course of action will be to discredit this organisation. Good that he has mentioned this first and taken a diplomatic approach. However if FATF continues to single out Pakistan again then we should outright attack it's integrity and declare it a tool for neo-colonialism. One needs to ruffle some feathers to be noticed sometimes.

 

[nahtanbob]

support for the Taliban is a good reason to put Pakistan on the gray list

 

[Ghessan]

this was expected more is coming. expect more surprises and face the heat.

it all comes to old man who do not want to talk and then is willing to have bases.

we must stand this resistance, we need to learn how to walk and stand on our own.

but filth is within the homeland, who with opportunity at hand play dirty and shout louder than they have the guts and keep mum when in power.

 

[Vapour]

According to Hammad Azhar, it will take a year for Pakistan to get out of the grey list by fulfilling all the criteria of both the terror financing and money laundering categories. If the govt knew that they were required to cover criteria for both categories, why the negligence on money laundering? Could have potentially been looking at getting out of the grey list by the end of 2021, now it will take at least a year more.

However, if this lingers beyond that, the grey listing will obviously be dubious given all criteria should be covered by then.

support for the Taliban is a good reason to put Pakistan on the gray list

This isn't a thread for Indian fantasies. There's a clear framework for Pakistan to go through and once that's done, no whinging and moaning can prevent the removal of the grey list status.