National Assembly witnesses a tense political exchange as government and opposition leaders debate the circumstances surrounding FATF-related legislation and past parliamentary consultations.
Islamabad: A heated political debate erupted in the National Assembly after Defense Minister Khawaja Asif and former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser exchanged remarks regarding legislation linked to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and meetings held during previous parliamentary sessions.
During the budget debate chaired by Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Khawaja Asif stated that political parties regularly consulted one another while drafting and amending key laws, including anti-money laundering legislation. He said intelligence officials were also present during some discussions and claimed that legislative matters were reviewed in meetings held at Asad Qaiser’s residence.
The statement prompted an immediate response from Asad Qaiser, who took the floor to clarify the record. He rejected the suggestion that the meetings took place at his personal home, explaining that they were held at the official residence of the Speaker of the National Assembly.
Qaiser said he was serving as a facilitator between the government and opposition at the time, helping build consensus on legislation required to address FATF-related obligations. According to him, the consultations were part of an institutional process aimed at protecting Pakistan’s financial interests and ensuring compliance with international commitments.
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