Pakistan to remain on FATF grey list

No respite for Pakistan as FATF has decided to keep the Imran Khan government on the 'Grey List". The decision was taken in the FATF's plenary session after Islamabad failed to comply with all 27 parameters set by the task force. FATF is  the world’s top anti-terrorism monitoring group. The global watchdog’s decision comes as a huge setback for PM Khan who had made efforts in the run-up to the virtual meeting of the FATF plenary to get his country off-the-hook including hiring a top lobbyist firm to push its narrative. The FATF, however, didn’t let Pakistan’s status change, mostly in view of Pakistan’s inability to substantially deliver on 6 of the 27 action points.

According to sources Turkey proposed during the FATF that members should consider Pakistan's good work. Turkey went further to suggest that the Financial Action Task Force should dispatch an on-site team to Pakistan to finalise its assessment instead of waiting for the completion of the remaining six out of 27 parameters. But none of the 38 members of the FATF seconded Turkey's proposal for on-site inspections in Pakistan during the plenary session. Pakistan was placed on the watchdog’s grey list in June 2018 after red flags were raised over its consistent failure to act against terrorist groups and plug the gaping holes in its legal framework to punish them. It has since then periodically taken some steps to demonstrate that it is making efforts.