Currently, the nation is divided on who should receive credit for Pakistan’s recent success in the completion of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) action plans. The majority of social media is of the view that the credit goes to the previous government led by PTI Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
To clarify, the FATF declared both Action Plans (2018 and 2021) of Pakistan as complete. FATF has authorized an onsite visit to the country, as a final step to exit from the FATF’s grey list.
Read more: FATF grey list: Hina Rabbani sparks criticism for not appreciating PTI efforts
This is a major achievement for Pakistan and is being widely celebrated with authority figures congratulating the nation. However, they did not appreciate or acknowledge the previous government’s efforts. The incumbent government is receiving a lot of criticism for seemingly claiming credit for the achievement.
وزیراعظم شہباز شریف کا پاکستان کی جانب سے تمام شرائط پوری کرنے کے فاٹف کے اعلان کا خیر مقدم، قوم کو مبارک
تمام حکومتی اداروں، شخصیات اور متعلقہ ٹیم کو مبارک دیتا ہوں، آپ سب کی کاوشیں رنگ لائی ہیں
وزیر مملکت حناربانی کھر اور وزارت خارجہ کی ٹیم کی کارکردگی کو سراہتا ہوں pic.twitter.com/LqCcffdNju
— PMLN (@pmln_org) June 17, 2022
Minister of State Hina Rabbani Khar, who is also the Chairperson National FATF Coordination Committee, too came under immense criticism. As per Twitter users, the former Energy Minister Hammad Azhar too deserves praise as he was the Chairman of Pakistan’s AML and CFT Group. Under the previous government, led by PTI, Pakistan made significant progress which FATF too recognized.
Shehbaz Sharif called the FATF session a “black day”
As a result, Twitter users are taking to social media to recall the incumbent government’s attitude towards FATF when it was in the Opposition during PTI’s tenure.
To clarify, in 2020, during a FATF session in the National Assembly, the then Opposition rejected the Anti-Terrorism Act (amendment) Bill which was the third FATF-related legislation to have been blocked by the opposition-dominated upper house.
https://twitter.com/laltaintabahde/status/1537714868320718848?s=20&t=21jsL2ipvpMm26yXiCIAmA
When the PTI government passed three crucial FATF-related laws in a joint session of the Parliament, the then Opposition leaders had walked out of the parliament and criticized the government. Shehbaz Sharif had termed the day when the laws were passed as a “black day in the history of democracy”. He said that the government “crossed red lines” and added that “until now, the opposition cooperated with the government for the sake of Pakistan”.
Read more: Imran Khan claims credit for FATF ‘achievement’