ISLAMABAD:(Parliament Times) A global money-laundering watchdog has decided to place Pakistan back on its terrorist financing watchlist, in a likely blow to both Pakistan’s economy and its strained relations with the United States. Pakistan will be included in the list in June this year, sources told. Earlier in the week China, Turkey, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) were opposing the U.S.-led move against Pakistan but by Thursday night both China and Saudi Arabia dropped their opposition. In a message posted on Twitter, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal said there is no official intimation of #FATF decision yet and “we should not speculate till official statement is released”. He also thanked Turkey for its support. The move comes days after reports that Pakistan had been given a three-month reprieve before being placed on the list, which could hamper banking and hurt foreign investment. The spokesperson of Foreign Office (FO) Dr. Muhammad Faisal said that name of Pakistan was not included in Gray List. During the weekly briefing of FO on Friday, he has strongly rejected the rumors about the inclusion of name of Pakistan in Gray List (the list of countries who facilitate the terrorists) adding that decision in this regard would come out after the final meeting of Financial Action Task Force (FATF). On January 20, 2018 UK and America had requested the (FATF) to include the name of Pakistan in Gray List. “The America has expressed its concern in FATF and the Pakistan has already initiated measures in this regard and started to implement on a action plan”, Spokesperson added and maintained that Pakistan is still waiting for reports of FATF and International Cooperation Review Group (RCRG). It is worth mentioning here that Indian media has claimed that decision has been made to included the name of Pakistan in Gray List, however this claim has been rejected by the Pakistan and FATF. On the other hands, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif on Feb 21 had claimed that American attempts to level lebal of terrorist on Pakistan has failed in FATF meeting as motion in this regard was not unanimously approved and matter has been postponed for three months. However, a senior official of US foreign department has avoided to verify the information about the delay of resolution against Pakistan. The number of FATF is 37, out of which 25 countries including America, UK, China, India and Turkey are included in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and European Commission. The primary responsibilities of the FATF are to initiate measures to check the money laundering and financial assistance of terrorists at international level. Pakistan will have to pass through severe supervision and monitoring of global aid, loans and investment in case of inclusion of its name in global watch list and this situation would badly affect on foreign investment. It is worth mentioning here that earlier name of Pakistan was also included in FATF watch list from 2012 to 2015. Dr. Faisal said that Pakistan would condemn the sanctions against any country including Russia. He said that atrocities in Indian Occupied Kashmir are going on and Indian troops have violated the cease fire agreement violation 355 times during the current year. During these violations some 15 innocent civilians were martyred and over 65 injured. The FO spokesperson said that yesterday Indian Deputy High Commissioner was summoned in foreign office and protest recorded in this regard. He appealed to International community to play its due role to stop Indian brutalities in occupied Kashmir.
Dr. Faisal said that PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi is currently on the visit of Turkimistan adding he would also visit the Afghanistan. During his visit he will also visit the TAPI gas pipeline project.
He has categorically rejected the media reports about the existence of Baloch separatists in China.
He did not respond to a question about Foreign Minister’s tweet about inclusion of Pakistan in Gray List.
The spokesperson said that European Union has extended the GSP Plus status of Pakistan which is not only beneficial for Pakistan but entire European countries also.
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