Shaukat Tarin, Moonis Elahi among over 700 Pakistanis named in ICIJ's 'Pandora Papers'

 

ISLAMABAD, OCT 3: The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) on Sunday unveiled “Pandora Papers” — a major international research into the financial secrets held by high-profile individuals around the world.

From Pakistan, investigative journalists Umar Cheema and Fakhar Durrani of The News International were part of the investigation.

Geo News reported that more than 700 Pakistanis have been named in the exposé.

The publication also named Senator Faisal Vawda, Ishaq Dar’s son, PPP’s Sharjeel Memon, the family of Minister for Industries and Production Khusro Bakhtiar, PTI leader Abdul Aleem Khan, among others, among those with alleged links to offshore companies.

The ICIJ released a report on the Pandora Papers titled "Prime Minister Imran Khan promised ‘new Pakistan’ but members of his inner circle secretly moved millions offshore."

According to the report, leaked documents revealed that "key members" of Prime Minister Imran's inner circle, including cabinet ministers, their families and major financial backers "have secretly owned an array of companies and trusts holding millions of dollars of hidden wealth".

"Military leaders have been implicated as well," it said, clarifying that the documents contained "no suggestion" that Imran himself owned offshore companies.

Among those named as holding foreign assets are Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin, his family, and the son of Prime Minister Imran's former adviser for finance and revenue, Waqar Masood Khan.

"The records also reveal the offshore dealings of a top PTI donor, Arif Naqvi, who is facing fraud charges in the United States," the ICIJ said.

Allegations against Moonis Elahi

The files show how PML-Q leader Chaudhry Moonis Elahi, "a key political ally of Imran Khan’s, planned to put the proceeds from an allegedly corrupt business deal into a secret trust, concealing them from Pakistan’s tax authorities", according to the consortium.

A family spokesman for the Elahi family told ICIJ’s media partners that, “due to political victimisation misleading interpretations and data have been circulated in files for nefarious reasons.” He maintained that the family’s assets “are declared as per applicable law”.

The investigation also revealed that "a luxury London apartment was transferred from the son of a famous Indian movie director to the wife of a three-star general". This was "one of several offshore holdings involving military leaders and their families", the ICIJ said.

The general told ICIJ the property purchase was disclosed and proper; his wife did not reply.

Over 600 reporters, 117 countries

According to the consortium, the Pandora Papers is its most expansive exposé of financial secrecy yet, even larger than its predecessor, the explosive Panama Papers, which had set off alarm bells across the world.

More than 600 reporters from around the world, belonging to 150 media organisations spanning 117 countries, participated in the research for two years for the Pandora Papers, which contain 11.9 million files.

According to a Geo report, Pandora Papers are larger than the Panama Papers in terms of data collection and collaboration, made possible by the largest research team in the history of journalism in the world.

Earlier today, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said details revealed in the Pandora Papers would "further strengthen" Prime Minister Imran Khan's stance.

"Panama Papers revealed offshore assets of very corrupt people. Now another research of ICIJ is coming. PM Imran stressed upon rich countries that hiding of poor countries' money in rich countries should be discouraged," he said in a tweet.

When details of money being moved from poor countries to rich countries are shared through Pandora Papers, like the Panama Papers previously, it would "further strengthen" PM Imran's stance, he added.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill, meanwhile, said: "Prime Minister Imran Khan has no offshore company."

Addressing a gathering in Faisalabad, Gill stressed that if any other member of the government was found to have hidden offshore assets, they would have to answer for themselves. "Everyone has to go into their own grave," he said.

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COURTEESY DAWN NEWS

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PM Imran, Tajik President agree to coordinate efforts in support of Afghan stability

ISLAMABAD, OCT 3: With tensions mounting between the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and Tajikistan, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday stepped in to defuse tensions, according to a diplomatic source.

“Prime Minister Imran Khan held telephonic conversation with President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan today,” the Prime Minister Office said in a statement.

The call took place as Taliban officials and Tajik government exchanged barbs and reports emerged that Tajik forces held parades in regions bordering Afghanistan earlier in the week in a show of power and Taliban sent thousands of fighters to the border with Afghanistan’s northeastern neighbour.

Tajikistan has taken a tough line on Taliban regime and has been critical of human rights violations committed by it, particularly in Panjshir province.

PM Khan had on his return from Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s summit in Tajikistan on Sept 18 announced that he was persuading Taliban to form an inclusive government by including people from other ethnicities. He had on this occasion specially referred to his conversation with President Emomali on this issue.

“After mtgs in Dushanbe with leaders of Afghanistan’s neighbours & especially a lengthy discussion with Tajik­istan’s President Emomali Rahmon, I have initiated a dialogue with the Taliban for an inclusive Afghan govt to include Tajiks, Hazaras & Uzbeks,” Mr Khan had then tweeted.

Taliban, however, see Tajikistan’s criticism of them and the composition of their government as meddling in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.

Afghan deputy prime minister Abdul Salaam Hanafi had in a TV interview earlier in the week said: “We will not allow any neighbouring nation to interfere in the internal matters of Afghanistan.”

Ethnic Tajiks make up the second biggest ethnicity in Afghanistan. They are nearly 27 per cent of Afghanistan’s population. Most of the groups opposing Taliban have, meanwhile, taken up refuge in Tajikistan.

The PMO statement did not publicly state that Mr Khan had called for lowering of tensions between the two sides. It instead said that Mr Khan had during the conversation “underscored the urg­ent imperative to address the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people,” and importance of the role the international community can play in providing necessary humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.

The PMO said the prime minister had also highlighted the immediate importance of economic engagement with Afghanistan to prevent an economic meltdown and to alleviate the suffering of common people.

“The two leaders agreed to remain in close contact with a view to further coordinating their efforts in support of peace and stability in Afghanistan,” it further said.

PM Khan has emerged as the top advocate for the international community’s engagement with the Taliban.

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COURTESY DAWN NEWS

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Turkish Deputy Defence Chief visits Nakhchivan in Azerbaijan

 

Baku, OCT 2: The Turkish delegation that was led by Deputy Defence Chief, Muhsin Dere visited Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan Exclave.

At the meeting with the delegation, Chairman of the Nakhchivan Supreme Assembly, Vasif Talibov told his satisfaction with Azerbaijani-Turkish military cooperation. 

He said that Nakhchivan’s security has been assured by cooperative army-building operations. He expressed gratitude to Turkey for its political and spiritual assistance for Azerbaijan. Especially during the 44-day war in 2020 between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Muhsin Dere congratulated Azerbaijan on its historic win in the 44-day war. He also emphasized the importance of the work done in the sector of army building as part of the two nations’ relations. Along with the strategic and geographical significance of Nakhchivan.

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COURTESY thediplomaticinsight

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Japan’s Former Foreign Minister Kishida to become new premier

TOKYO, SEPT 29: Japan’s former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida has been elected new leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Wednesday, local media reported.

He will succeed outgoing Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.

Kishida defeated Vaccination Minister Taro Kono in a runoff, according to Kyodo news agency.

The former foreign minister got 257 votes, while Kono received only 170.

Under pressure for a weaker anti-coronavirus policy, Suga earlier this month announced he will step down as premier and will not run for party leadership.

Kishida is set to be elected prime minister during a special parliament session to be held on Monday.

The LDP saw a four-way leadership contest which included two female candidates-including Sanae Takaichi, a former communications minister; and Seiko Noda, the LDP executive acting secretary general.

They lost in the first round and party leadership elections went for runoff between Kishida and Kono.

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COURTESY Anews

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Japan confers “Order of Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette” upon Feroz Alam Shah

 

ISLAMABAD, SEPT 29: The Government of Japan has conferred the 2021 Spring Imperial Decoration, “The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette” upon Feroz Alam Shah, Honorary Technical Advisor, Federal Board of Investment (BoI) and Director of National Engineering Corporation (NEC), in recognition of his dedicated contributions to promoting economic relations and mutual understanding between Japan and Pakistan.

MATSUDA Kuninori, the Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, on behalf of the Government of Japan on September 29 conferred the imperial decoration “The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette” upon Feroz Alam Shah. The conferral ceremony was held at his official residence with limited participants, while taking infection prevention measures against COVID-19.

Feroz Alam Shah has worked as Honorary Technical Advisor at the Federal Board of Investment (BoI) since 2010, supporting business ties between Japan and Pakistan, whilst simultaneously working as a director in the private sector. In terms of facilitation of new entrants to the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Pakistan, he dedicated to assisting entry of business in the Pakistani market.

He additionally dealt with the complicated application process, cooperating with the Pakistani Government. Likewise, after formal introduction into the market, he contributed to working for the coordination of amendments to the SEZ Act to be more coherence with actual business activities.

Apart from his work furthering bilateral business ties, he has established “Pak-Japan Friendship Society (PJFS)” in 2000 in Balochistan with his brother, and been fulfilling a major role as the president from 2018.

He has also contributed to establish “Pak-Japan Culture Centre in Quetta” which promote cultural exchange through introducing Japanese Movies, Japanese Marshal arts “Karate” and Flower arrangement etc. His activities is not just focusing on not only strengthening Economic ties but also cultural understanding between two countries.

Ambassador MATSUDA, while speaking on the occasion, congratulated Mr. Shah on receiving this prestigious imperial decoration by the Government of Japan and hoped to develop closer cooperative ties between two countries along with Mr. Shah.

The Ambassador expressed his sincere hope that this contribution will further promote and strengthen economic relations and mutual understanding between Japan and Pakistan as well as people-to-people contacts between the two friendly nations. 

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