India fails to push Pakistan into FATF blacklist: Shah Mehmood Qureshi

MULTAN: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that India had tried to push Pakistan into the FATF blacklist but it failed despite repeated efforts.

He said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf govt has worked a lot on Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in limited time and bills were also passed with the consultation of opposition from Parliament in this regard.

The opposition parties voted in favour of the bills in the National Assembly but opposed it in the Senate.

He said that passage of the bill was need of the hour and expressed his hope that Pakistan will come out from the grey list. Foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi expressed these views while talking to journalists here at Mumtazabad on Saturday.

Qureshi said that mourning processions were being taken out across the world today but these were banned in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K).

The Indian forces were arresting the Kashmiri people to stop them from mourning. He appealed the Ulema to describe the Indian atrocities in IIOJK during their speeches.

To a question about rains in Karachi, he said that the people of Karachi were facing miseries due to heavy rains and the federal government will extend every type of cooperation with the Sindh government in this connection.

About the health of PML N supremo, Nawaz Sharif, Qureshi said that he should return without waiting for government steps as his health seemed better now.

About flood situation, Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that water level was increasing in water reservoirs which may result in flooding.

There was a flood situation in Balochistan and the federal government would help it.

He said that the sewerage system of Multan was insufficient to cover the city as most of the population is not connected with the sewerage system.

He informed that development funds worth of billions of rupees got approved from JAICA and Asian Development Bank to replace the sewerage system of the city.

He said that the nefarious designs of different elements that wanted to spread sectarianism would be foiled.

The peace of Multan is exemplary as the rich tribute was being paid to Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and martyrs of Karbala. He also hailed administration over better arrangements. Earlier, Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi visited the main procession routes of Mumtazabad and expressed satisfaction over the security and other arrangements.

Later, speaking to reporters during a peace rally at Doulat Gate, Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the Indian policy in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir has been unsuccessful.

Pakistan Army and the government stood with the Kashmiri people for their struggle of freedom.

He said that Pakistan enjoys cordial relations with Saudi Arabia and the leadership of both countries used to visit each other. —APP