Pakistan

Sat beside Waqar Masood not Ishaq Dar, Panamanian minister clarifies

Finance ministry dismisses the claim as absolutely baseless, unfounded and extremely surprising

News Desk April 16, 2016

PHOTO: AFP

Panama's deputy economic minister has issued a clarification saying that it was in fact Federal Secretary of Finance Waqar Masood whom he had met in Washington DC and not Ishaq Dar.

“Just to clarify, at the Global Connect Initiative Meeting I sat beside Waqar Masood, Federal Secretary of Finance and not Mr Dar, Finance Minister,” Zarak tweeted.

Just to clarify, at the Global Connect Initiative Meeting I sat beside Waqar Masood, Federal Sec of Finance and not Mr. Dar, Finance Mtr.
— Ivan Zarak (@ivanzarak) April 17, 2016

Earlier, the Panamanian deputy economy minister had claimed to have met Pakistan's finance minister in Washington. He said Dar had asked him about the Panama Papers scandal.

While talking to CNN’s Richard Quest, Ivan Zarak said he had just met the Pakistani finance minister. “We have never talked and he said you should be going through difficult times in Panama because of the leaks,” he said.

Probing Panama leaks: Govt engages opposition parties over commission, TORs

“I said, well you’re absolutely right but I can tell you about how the rest of our economy is doing and you will get a totally different perception,” Zarak added.

However, the finance ministry dismissed the claim by Panama’s minister that Ishaq Dar met him in Washington, insisting that it was absolutely baseless.

On Saturday, a finance ministry spokesman said Panama’s minister made an absolutely baseless, unfounded and extremely surprising claim of meeting with Pakistan’s finance minister in Washington.

The finance minister, he added, had cancelled his visit to Washington DC, where he was scheduled to attend the spring meetings of World Bank and International Monetary Fund between April 14 and 17.

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“How could Ivan Zarak meet the finance minister when the latter has not even left Pakistan in the past many weeks?” he questioned.

The spokesman said Ishaq Dar was in Pakistan and had been performing his day to day duties, which were also being covered by the media.

Finance Secretary Dr Waqar Masood Khan is representing Pakistan at the Washington meetings currently in progress. The finance ministry said the matter would be taken up with CNN.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 17^th, 2016.

COMMENTS (17)

NHA | 7 years ago | Reply @Parvez: It was a casual meeting at an event in Washington. No one went from Pakistan for meeting with Panamanian Minister. Also this shows how intelligent was Panamanian Minister who did not know the difference between a Minister and Secretary of a Ministry. Do not jump to conclusion and please use your common sense as well. The types of you are ruining country's image.

Xnain | 8 years ago | Reply Look at the PTI walahs, still trying to prove the point out of thin air. Such a desperate bunch of folks these are.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

Motiwala | 8 years ago | Reply @Rex Minor: Same goes for Chinese Uighers like YOU, from Afghanistan.

Sumair | 8 years ago | Reply after all damage done.. tribune clarified he story... Why tribune didn't talk to Dar sb before publishing this story.

Abdullah | 8 years ago | Reply Feel sorry for Imran Niazi.... may be next time....

SHAH | 8 years ago | Reply Look at his eyes, drops of excess scotch almost falling off the eyes; LIARS to the CORE;

Rex Minor | 8 years ago | Reply This is nothing unusual about the contridictory news, most if not all the people from the five rivers look more or less similar.. Rex Minor

Parvez | 8 years ago | Reply Minister or Secretary......matters not because they both represent Pakistan......or in theory should.

NHA | 8 years ago | Reply The leaders are coward . Otherwise why would CNN and ET and a bunch of shameless commentators whould say what they are saying about Pakistan?

NHA | 8 years ago | Reply @Truthbetold: Shame on all of you. When the Panamanian Minister says he did not meet Ishaq Dar then why these biased comments. I doubt if you guys are Pakistanis or have any sense of self-respect. It is mere propaganda. Also, ET why is this Headline. It should have been different saying Panamanian Minister regrets the mistake as he said he did not meet Finance Minister. Govt should sue CNN and ET for inaccurate reporting.

Raisani | 8 years ago | Reply Munshi just doing his job. Simple.

Rollin & Trollin | 8 years ago | Reply The whole world is lying except Sharifs and their cronies ??!! Go figure !

Azi | 8 years ago | Reply Requirements of getting into PMLN as a minister is a proven track record of lying and continue as well as defend that lie when its exposed with evidence. I honestly cannot understand how people vote for these habitual liars.

NKAli | 8 years ago | Reply In Pakistan one never knows. He could have left late at nite and met the Panamanian minister and IMF officials for two to three hours and taken a non-stop flight back to Pakistan. Nevertheless, the issue should be taken up wth CNN albeit it is not known to gossip. SALAMS

Truthbetold | 8 years ago | Reply What a shame for NS and his cronies!!!!

Pakistan | 8 years ago | Reply Did any body see Ishaq Dar in the country anywhere? No body. The pictures of that phoney meeting in PM Housr were never made public. Maryam Safdar's statement appeared but Ishaq was nowhere. So what does this tell us? Where are you Ishaq Dar? You must be tired after such hectic trip?

Salim Khan | 8 years ago | Reply This is how every nation treats Pakistan. Read such tiny country's ministers comments. They look at Pakistan as if we are jokers.

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