Bilawal says after FATF, a good news about GSP+ status

LARKANA - Foreign Minister and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that after the big achievement at the FATF forum, the government is going to eventually succeed in retaining the GSP+ status for the country and bring more glad tidings for exports.

“These are the things that we achieved by focusing on our work, instead of resorting to mudslinging,” said Bilawa while addressing a public gathering organised on the occasion of the 69th birth anniversary of the slain PPP chairperson and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto here yesterday.

He went on to say that Pakistan was facing two “FIRs” against it in FATF; one related to money laundering while the other related to terror financing.

Bilawal said that former prime minister Benazir Bhutto bravely fought military dictators and her activists have kept her message alive in today’s Pakistan.

He said that Shaheed Benazir Bhutto devoted her life for the people of Pakistan and sacrificed for restoration of democracy and strengthening democratic institutions. He also pledged that by adhering to the philosophy of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, he would continue struggle to eradicate poverty, hunger and unemployment from the country as well as ensure socio-economic justice by strengthening Parliament and democracy.

Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto said that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto is the name of a way of thinking and a path that guarantees liberation of the people from deprivation and promises an egalitarian and progressive society to future generations. “It is the victory of the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto that the democratic forces in the country today are united and determined to take the country out of the difficulties it is facing,” he added.

Bilawal Bhutto said that “power-hungry and criminal Imran Khan Niazi”, who was responsible for the current inflation and several other prevailing economic issues, is roaming free and is accusing others of causing the issues.

“Imran was causing this damage to the people just to stay in power and the burden of it is now being born by the commoners.”

| Blames ‘power-hungry’ Imran for economic crisis | Says Benzair Bhutto laid down her life for the cause of real democracy

Bilawal asserted that the former premier must be told to respond to his performance, including the cases of corruption emerging now.

“It was because of the struggle of PPP workers  that Imran Khan was ousted from power via a no-trust move,” he told the participants gathered at the venue.

Imran Khan’s narrative against corruption is a lie, he added.

The PPP chief further said his party ousted the “selected” after waging a struggle along with two other political parties.

Referring to the Tosha Khana case, he said the PTI chief and the former first lady will have to provide answers about their corruption.

He said that Imran Khan has sold a watch gifted to him by a foreign country and also brought a bad name to the country.

“People now know that the slogan of change wasn’t for change, but for the destruction of the country.”

Imran Khan, he added, begged other countries for funds and is now resorting to mudslinging against his political rivals.

He ensured that the government is working day and night to ensure that the country was put back on the path of stability and progress.

“It was because of the struggle by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that Pakistan was saved from going bankrupt.”

The PPP leader, who is also the foreign minister, maintained that he had been visiting several countries. “Our policy is not to beg but to trade with other countries.”

“We put immense effort into taking Pakistan out of the Financial Action Taskforce (FATF) grey list and it is hoped that by October, when an on-site visit is due, we will achieve this objective.”

He went on to say that Pakistan was facing two “FIRs” against it in FATF; one related to money laundering while the other related to terror financing.

Earlier, while addressing the gathering, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah that the coming generations will keep the slogans of the party high and achieve them.

He added that the party activists will never forget Benazir Bhutto’s message and will keep it alive with zeal and zest. Bilawal  pledged that by adhering to the philosophy of Benazir Bhutto, he would continue struggle to eradicate poverty, hunger and unemployment from the country as well as ensure socio-economic justice by strengthening parliament and democracy.

“People now know that the slogan of change wasn’t for change, but for the destruction of the country.”

Imran Khan, he added, begged other countries for funds and is now resorting to mudslinging against his political rivals.

Earlier, while addressing the gathering, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah that the coming generations will keep the slogans of the party high and achieve them.

He added that the party activists will never forget Benazir Bhutto’s message and will keep it alive with zeal and zest.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tributes to the PPP chairperson and said democracy is “poorer” without her; the void “left by her martyrdom will never be filled”.

He recalled the former prime minister fearlessly and staunchly advocated the causes she believed in.

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