FATF’s whitelisting of Pakistan: Michael Kugelman gives credit to PTI, military

Michael Kugelman, an American journalist and Deputy Director of the Asia Program and Senior Associate for South Asia at the Wilson Center, has given credit to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government and military for making effective efforts for Pakistan’s whitelisting announced by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

Michael Kugelman said in a series of tweets, “Pakistan was put on FATF greylist in early 2018 when PMLN government was in power. FATF’s evaluation of Pakistan’s efforts to complete its action plan for graylist removal mainly covered the period when PTI was in power. So FATF decision today will be based on what was done in PTI era.”

Pakistan was put on FATF gray list in early 2018, when PMLN govt was in power. FATF’s evaluation of Pakistan’s efforts to complete its action plan for gray list removal mainly covered period when PTI was in power. So FATF decision today will be based on what was done in PTI era.

— Michael Kugelman (@MichaelKugelman) June 17, 2022

FATF’s announcement

“Since June 2018, Pakistan’s continued political commitment to combating both terrorist financing and money laundering has led to significant progress.”

“In particular, Pakistan demonstrated that TF investigations and prosecutions target senior leaders and commanders of UN-designated terrorist groups and that there is a positive upwards trend in the number of ML investigations and prosecutions being pursued in Pakistan.”

“In addition, Pakistan also largely addressed its 2021 action plan ahead of the set times. At its June 2022 Plenary, the FATF made the initial determination that Pakistan has substantially completed its two action plans, covering 34 items.”

“FATF warrants an on-site visit to verify that the implementation of Pakistan’s AML/CFT reforms has begun and is being sustained necessary political commitment remains in place to sustain implementation and improvement in the future. The FATF will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and conduct an on-site visit at the earliest possible date.”

Responding to a netizen’s post, he said, “The Army could reasonably take credit, as I’m sure they would have been behind many of the actions taken to try to get Pakistan off the gray list. The PDM, no.”

The Army could reasonably take credit, as I’m sure they would have been behind many of the actions taken to try to get Pakistan off the gray list. The PDM, no. https://t.co/QYFZ1aVYr0

— Michael Kugelman (@MichaelKugelman) June 17, 2022

He said, “Many are asserting Pakistan was greylisted in June 2018, when an interim government was in place before the elections. In fact, while Pakistan was formally put on the greylist in June 2018, the initial decision to gray list it was made at the FATF plenary back in February 2018.”

“Pakistan got good news today. FATF announced Pakistan has completed all 34 of its action plan items (after being stuck on 32/33 for long), and that an on-site visit will soon be made to verify its following through. This could put Pakistan on the path to exiting the greylist,” he said in another tweet.

Imran Khan

Former prime minister and PTI chairman Imran Khan said in a Twitter thread after the FATF development, “Pakistan was nominated for grey listing by FATF in Feb 2018 & had 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.”

“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.”

“FATF repeatedly praised work & the political will my govt demonstrated. We 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.”

“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 concluded.

Pak was nominated for grey listing by FATF in Feb 2018 & had 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.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) June 17, 2022

COAS Bajwa

The DG-ISPR said in a Twitter message, “Completion of FATF AML /CFT action plans by Pak is a great achievement. A monumental effort paving way 4 whitelisting. “Core cell @ GHQ which steered the national effort & civil – military team which synergised implementation of action plan made it possible, making Pak proud” COAS.”

Completion of FATF AML /CFT action plans by Pak is a great achievement. A monumental effort paving way 4 whitelisting. “Core cell @ GHQ which steered the national effort & civil – military team which synergised implementation of action plan made it possible, making Pak proud”COAS

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) June 17, 2022