Ahsan Iqbal takes jibe at PPP for claiming it can bring end to 'international isolation'

Interior minister added that Pakistan was placed on FATF watch list twice during PPP reign

Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday took a jibe at Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) co-chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari saying Pakistan was blacklisted twice in Financial Action Task Force (FATF) during the party's tenure.

Addressing the former president directly, Iqbal said, "Mr Zardari with your “English speaking” Foreign Ministers, we got twice blacklisted in FATF. Let’s have a national response instead of politicising everything. Recent grey listing is part of US’s New Afgh stgy to put pressure on Pak."

Mr Zardari with your “English speaking” Foreign Ministers, we got twice blacklisted in FATF. Let’s have a national response instead of politicising everything. Recent grey listing is part of US’s New Afgh stgy to put pressure on Pak.

— Ahsan Iqbal (@betterpakistan) March 1, 2018

"In 2008 Pak was blacklisted by FATF, in 2010 it was put on grey list from black, in 2012 again put on black list, in 2014 it was put to grey from black, in 2015 it was removed from grey & put on white list," his tweet read.

He further added that after 2015, in 2018 Pakistan was nominated for the watch list again.

FATF background for PPP info: In 2008 Pak was blacklisted by FATF, in 2010 it was put on grey list from black, in 2012 again put on black list, in 2014 it was put to grey from black, in 2015 it was removed from grey & put on white list, in 2018 again nominated for grey list.

— Ahsan Iqbal (@betterpakistan) March 1, 2018

The minister also stated that Pakistan's placement on the FATF watch list is a part of the United States' (US) Afghanistan strategy to put pressure on Pakistan. He further accused PPP of "politicising everything" and urged them to unite in a "national response".

Earlier, PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that his party is the only option available to the people for a peaceful, prosperous and progressive Pakistan and urged the lawmakers, leaders and workers to get ready for a vigorous election campaign across the country.

“Let us take our party message to every nook and corner of the country that it is only the PPP, which can face and foil the international conspiracies against Pakistan. Only PPP can give a foreign policy, which can take the country out of isolation and restore its prestigious standing in the world capitals,” the PPP chairperson added.