ISLAMABAD: Opposition not to link Financial Action Task Force (FATF) bill with NAB amendments and personal interests should not be allowed to dominate national interests.
This was stated by Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz while talking to a private TV Channel program.
Pakistan has no choice but to leave FATF’s gray list if it wants to get back on the track of economic prosperity, Shibli said, adding that the terms of the FATF were discussed in the Joint Parliamentary Committee today. He said that regrettably, the opposition is trying to link FATF legislation with NAB ammendments.
The Federal Minister said that bargaining over FATF legislation was unfortunate and it would be wrong of the opposition to seek concessions in its name. He said that the government wants NAB amendments and FATF bill to be looked at separately.
He said that we have implemented 14 of FATF’s 27 points unlike previous governments who put personal interests over national interests and are now aiming to take advantage of the situation.
“If we have to change things without compromise, we will do it,” he said. There should be no leniency for those who have harmed the country.
The Information Minister said that another meeting on FATF would be held on July 27 to formulate our path for the future. We have no choice but to get the country off the gray list, he added.
Shibli Faraz said that the opposition should consider the FATF as a national problem, otherwise Pakistan will suffer. We want one law for all, not targeting any one party.
