Politicians, military generals and others named in investigative reports have come out about their holdings in the United Arab Emirates after exposés of leaked assets attracted national media attention.
These include Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Sindh Chief Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Senator Faisal Wawada, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Sher Afzal Marwat and others. Azad Jammu and Kashmir Inspector General of Police Dr Sohail Habib Tajik – some of whom declared property in Dubai – said.
Bilawal’s spokesperson Zulfiqar Ali Bader said that all assets of Bilawal and Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari have been declared. This trait was inherited by her mother Benazir Bhutto after her death.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that the properties bought in the name of his Dubai wife had been disclosed and listed in the tax returns. It was also revealed in a report sent to the Punjab Election Commission when the governor of the province was the chief minister. He said this property was sold a year ago and the new property was recently purchased with the proceeds.
Independent senator Faisal Wawad reacted to the leak of assets and objections over time, calling them a “preaching campaign”. He asked why no one from PTI was mentioned.
He lamented that all properties in Dubai were illegally sealed, while the program was set up to give clean money to certain classes.
The politician questioned whether the aim of the leak was to affect the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) investment deals with friendly countries. He also asked for the release of classified asset records following the breakdown of the law and order situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and asked who could be the main target of the “propaganda campaign”.
Sindh Minister Memon said that he submits property details in his declaration of property and assets every year. He said that the leak does not reveal anything new because everything is common knowledge.
Mirza Iqtiar Baig, a PPP MP from Karachi, claimed to own around 20 properties in the UAE, which he said he jointly owned with his wife and brother Mirza Ishtiaq Baig.
The politician said the assets were between $137,915 and $329,430, which he said were disclosed in his tax returns, including all his corporate tax returns.
AJK IGP Dr Tajik was listed as the owner of the property in Al Dhafra 1 and Al Thania 3 in Dubai and confirmed the ownership of the property.
Dr Tajik said he bought the property in 2002 while working for the United Nations and his salary was $10,000.
Former Lt General Shafaatullah Shah, son of former Intelligence General (DGC), Major General Ehtisham Zamir son and other children, former DG Military Lands and Cantonment Major General Najamul Hasan Shah and Major General (former) Raja Muhammad Arif Nazir He confirmed that he owns the property in Dubai and said that all properties have been declared to the tax authorities.
Former Lieutenant Colonel Shafaatullah and Major General (ex) Ehtesham confirmed the ownership of the assets in their response to the Organization for Crime and Corruption Reporting (OCCRP) and said that all foreign assets have been declared to the tax authorities in Pakistan. In his reply, General (Retd) Najam said that he had bought the property off-plan in 2007.
“They said the building will be completed in 2014 and the apartment will be given to us. But it has not been built and now we are suing the tower management for not delivering the apartment. It has been 17 years,” he said. .
Major Gen (former) Nazir is said to own a property at Golf Promenade A2 in the Third Area of Al Hibiya. In reporting the property, he confirmed ownership and said it was gifted to him by his son, who lives in the US and Denmark.
However, he insisted that he did not declare that he had no real estate plans and that he would take ownership in 2022. The ex-serviceman said he would now announce the property.
