FATF grey list: Erdogan pledges support to Pakistan in upcoming meeting

• 'We will be supporting Pakistan at the Financial Action Task Force meetings,' says Erdogan in his address to Pakistan parliament.
• The FATF's five-day plenary session begins in Paris from February 16, which will decide whether Pakistan will remain on the grey list or will leave it.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Friday announcing his support to Pakistan said he would help Pakistan stay off the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) blacklist.

“We will be supporting Pakistan at the Financial Action Task Force meetings, where Pakistan is subject to political pressure," Erdogan told during his address at the joint parliamentary session held in Islamabad.

Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday expressed optimism over the upcoming FATF review, as the intergovernmental organization reviews Pakistan's measures at the meeting that begins on February 16.

In a weekly presser, FO Spokesperson Aisha Farooqi said that “our international partners are standing with us."

Pakistan on Wednesday, sentenced Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed and his aide, Malik Zafar Iqbal, to five-and-a-half-year imprisonment for terror financing.

Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Hammad Azhar, who is leading the talks for Pakistan  stressed that his team remain committed to complete FATF Action Plan.

“Pakistan remains committed to the earliest completion of its FATF Action Plan," said Azhar in a tweet post.

The FATF's five-day plenary session begins in Paris from February 16. As per details, it will be decided at the meeting whether Pakistan will remain on the grey list or will leave it.

Reports indicate that despite the opposition by the rival neighbor India during the FATF meeting in Beijing last year, the United States, the European Union, has supported Pakistan for its measures taken to counter anti-money laundering and terror financing.

Pakistan was cleared of 14 points out of 27 at the Asia Pacific Group meeting held in Beijing, China from January 21 to January 23. FATF added Pakistan to the grey list in June 2018. After that, Pakistan ensured implementation of most points and action plans.