Imran credits Hammad, his team for success

Former premier says all officials concerned ‘worked day and night to avoid blacklisting’

ISLAMABAD:

Former prime minister Imran Khan has appreciated the efforts of ex-federal minister Hammad Azhar and his team for completing the “most challenging” action plan of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to enable the country to exit its grey list.

His statement comes soon after FATF – an international financial watchdog for combatting money laundering and terrorist financing – on Friday announced kick-starting a process to remove Pakistan from the ‘grey list’ after four years of rigorous monitoring.

“At its June 2022 Plenary, the FATF made the initial determination that Pakistan has substantially completed its two action plans, covering 34 items,” according to a statement issued by the FATF on Friday.

On-site inspection mission decision was taken by the global body during its June 14-17 plenary meeting held in Berlin, Germany.

“I am confident that prerequisite onsite visit of FATF team to confirm completed work on our action plan will pass successfully too. Hammad Azhar, members of his FATF coordination committee & officers who worked on this task performed exceptionally well. The whole country is proud of you,” the former premier said in a series of tweets.

I am confident that prerequisite onsite visit of FATF team to confirm completed work on our action plan will pass successfully too. Hammad Azhar, members of his FATF coord committee & officers who worked on this task performed exceptionally well. The whole country is proud of you

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) June 17, 2022

Hammad responded to his compliment saying: “Thank you sir. Your political resolve and leadership made it possible. Pakistan Zindabad.”

Thank you sir. Your political resolve and leadership made it possible. Pakistan Zindabad. https://t.co/bH7a6e2Nfl

— Hammad Azhar (@Hammad_Azhar) June 17, 2022

In another tweet, Imran said Pakistan was nominated for grey listing by FATF in Feb 2018 and was asked to complete the “most challenging” action plan ever given to any jurisdiction. “When my govt took over, we faced dire prospect of Blacklisting by that body. Our past compliance history with FATF was also not favourable.”

He went to say that he constituted a FATF coordination committee headed by then minister Hammad Azhar and had representation from all government departments and security agencies relevant to the FATF action plan. “The officers worked day & night in the first instance to avoid blacklisting,” he added.

I constituted a FATF Coordination Committee headed by key minister Hammad Azhar. The committee had representation from all govt departments & security agencies relevant to our FATF action plan. The officers worked day & night in the first instance to avoid blacklisting.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) June 17, 2022

Imran said his government not only averted blacklisting, but also completed 32 out of 34 action items. “We submitted compliance report on remaining 2 items in April based on which FATF now declared Pak's Action Plan as completed.”

Meanwhile, former interior minister and Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid said the credit of ‘Pakistan’s exit’ from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list would go to former prime minister Imran Khan, the Pakistan Army and the Interior Ministry.