The lion that fed on public’s money

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PML-N President Nawaz Sharif made financial gains of $418 million during his two stints as prime minister of the country, according to a book, Capitalism’s Achilles Heel, by Raymond W Baker.
The book by the American is a dossier on the corruption of most dominating political families in the history, including the Sharifs, and explains how they accumulated their properties, factories and enormous wealth. According to the book, at least $160 million were pocketed by Nawaz from a contract to build the Motorway from Lahore to Islamabad during his first stint as prime minister in 1990.
Baker states in his book that Nawaz made at least $140 million in unsecured loans from banks, more than $60 million from government rebates on sugar exported by mills controlled by him and his business associates, and at least $58 million from the import of wheat from the US and Canada. “In the wheat deal, Mr Sharif’s government paid prices far above the market value to a private company owned by a close associate of his in Washington,” the book states quoting records.
Falsely generated invoices for the wheat generated tens of millions of dollars in cash. The book review went on to state, “The extent and magnitude of this corruption is so staggering that it has put the very integrity of the country at stake.”

39 COMMENTS

  1. All [politicians who have been in the seat of power in Pakistan are corrupt.. The politicians who are not corrupt are those who have not tasted power. When Ik and others win they will defintely be corrupt.

    • How can you say when IK comes to power, he will be corrupt? Those who have corrupt traits in them are corrupt whether in or out of power.

      One thing is indisputable about IK, he is honest.

    • That's not correct. Bhutto wasn't corrupt. Junejo was personally a clean man though encircled by Zia's stooges.

      • I endorse your views for both Mr. Z.A Bhutto and Mr.Junejo but some hidden hands do not swallow this and create a situation.Zia got rid off both for different reasons.Bhutto on the pressure from the Americans as he was getting too big for his boots internationally and was a thorn in the American flesh whereas Mr.Junejo was got rid off by Zia as he felt threatened and undermined by him because of Junejo's popular actions trying to bring about civilian supremacy opposing Zia and the military establishment of that time in re-defining their right role.Dr.Kamar Afghan from Lo
        ndon(England)

  2. Watch nawaz back off from attacking ppp now. Everybody knows that nawaz and family have no morals and priinciples. He talks against the army buy yet at the same time his daughter was sleeping with an army captain before marriage in the prime minister's house. He ran off crying when he was put in jail. He lied about his deal with Musharaf. He pays hardly any taxes. He lives like a King. He has property and businesses all over the world. He stayed friendly with ppp govt in the hopes that it will be his turn next. I think he should be hung right next to gillani. He is a hypocrate.

    • With due respect, I would like to remind you sir that punishment for false allegations of sexual misconduct on any woman attracts severe punishment as prescribed in the Holy Qur'an. Kindly refrain from such careless acts unless you have proof and witnesses. You may criticize politics of Nawaz Shareef etc. as per your understanding and believe.

  3. It is a slanderous campaign against Nawaz Sharif. US is hell-bent to prevent him from coming to power because he is considered a nationalist with religious bent of mind. So he is being systematically vilified and targeted. Our own agencies and media are facilitators to US in this campaign.

  4. I wonder if the same author enlisted the ill gotten wealth of Benazir and Asif Zardari, which according to some estimates is in excess of $1.5 billion. If he did not, then the credibility of his claims must be treated with great suspicion. The book may sponsored by the CIA, in which case it should be treated as a comic book.

    • Remember Nawaz release from jail and his sparing from death sentence was facilitated by US President Clinton. Remember Clinton's visit for 4 hours in 1999 in which he stressed military generals not to hang Nawaz.

    • No. That is logically untenable. It could be that the author has not made any mention of Benazir's ill gotten wealth and it may even be that he adores her, but that does not follow that he is 'wrong' regarding Nawaz. Inconsistency does not mean that his claims/arguments are false or that we are to treat him with 'suspicion'. And lastly, CIA does not 'sponsor' any books. Why would the CIA be 'sponsoring' a book against Nawaz?

    • Also, one correction, having just checked the book, the author DOES list Benazir and zardari's corruption as well. He says as much about them as he does about Nawaz.

  5. Both the families of Bhutto's/Zardari and Sharif are klaptocratic oligarchies who have been looting this country in a game of political musical chair. This fact is known to everyone and there is just no point to judge the authenticity of the said book by looking for the names of Zardari's and Bhuttos. Whether someones name is there or not the fact is that Pakistan has been robbed by ruling elite, more so by corrupt families and in the next elections we will elect the same corrupt elements.

    • Add Chaudhrys and Gillanis and what not to the list of Corrupt families looting Pakistan

  6. The author has listed only three instances where Sharifs indulged in corruption. Actually, there are dozens more.

  7. This article is an example for bad journalism in Pakistan, an example of how wanna-be-journalists try to be players in the political game instead of reporting and informing instead of taking influence. Yes, Nawaz Sharif was/is corrupt as are most, if not all Pakistani politicians. And yes, Sharif stole millions of Dollars. But this book ""Capitalism's Achilles Heel" by Raymond W. Baker, which this article refers to, was published in 2005. So why is this subject newsworthy now, seven years later, although there are no new facts?

    • That's actually a good point. I really don't have a good view of Pakistani media – electronic and print.

  8. Also, nowhere does the article reveal that the book is more than seven years old. As I said: This is not journalism.

  9. the sharif and Bhutto family along with other corrupt leader must be sent to on Black Water to get red from these professional looter's,
    they must banned from contesting Election at once.
    because people of Pakistan getting poorer and poorer from 1947 but they become billion-er,

  10. Perhaps W.Baker has forgotten to mention the corruption of ppp high commands in Pakistan.At present the ex-p.m gilani having lolly pop in his mouth living in the presidency may be ignored by this writter.only Nawaz Sharief Fiamily in his mind Add his knowlegde that bhutto family is the richest fuedalist family in the poor country of Pakistan,And now Zardari is the richest man in pakistan,Americans are very narrowminded people and they mention what officially fed by government elements.His report about Nawaz sharief is rubish,false,baseless and only naked prapoganda agaisnt Punjab.We condemn and reject this bloody report.

  11. Punjab k sheroun ko kon puchchey, judge en k, generals en k, ar journalists to hain hi en k!

  12. No doubt there are lot more stories which are yet to be disclosed, moreover the SO-CALLED KHADAMEALA SHAHBAZ said few dats back in a public gathering that '''''' when his party would be in power they would finish load shedding in 6 monyhs only''''''' Is there anyone who can ask that stupid person that according to 18th ammendment he could do that 1.5 years before, but they are the full of LIES and they know how to make fool people becaz they have been doing so since last so many dacades 🙁

  13. This man called Nawaz Sharif is wolf in sheep skin, he wants to rule this country not for the betterment of the people but to mend billions of dollars for himself shame on him. Breaking the bowl’, so goes the slogan of the Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif. In public he sermonizes about “ridding the province of foreign aid and loans”. He harangues the federal government for sloshing too much through borrowing too much. But under him the province is said to have acquired loans to the tune of Rs 80 billion – and this is not overdraft from the federal government, it is just the foreign borrowings. Investigation should be initiated into this borrowing and latest corruption should be made public.

  14. the ppl who even imagine that nawaz will fall, and imran will come to power have no sence of politics in actual on ground…….as u ppl do not need credibility of book same when u see claiming imran u agree to him………………..so sad it is……………………..when u see musharaff come to power then its good but when u try him then u become against him………………its ur mistake not the shareef and others…….but remember imran khan is even more ineligible and inexperience to run this country out of troubles.

  15. The goat-like lions(the whole shreef family) are the real bigger traitors of Pakistan than Dr Shakeel Afridi. These are the hungry lion, when they had gotten power and opportunity they had always brutally eaten the innocent people of Pakistan……. The old-aged lions has now breed its new generation (Marium, Hamza, etc)to rule on the people of Pakistan.
    The Shareef family should bring into accountability.

  16. the ppl who even imagine that nawaz will fall, and imran will come to power have no sence of politics in actual on ground…….as u ppl do not need credibility of book same when u see claiming imran u agree to him………………..so sad it is……………………..when u see musharaff come to power then its good but when u try him then u become against him………………its ur mistake not the shareef and others…….but remember imran khan is even more ineligible and inexperience to run this country out of troubles.

  17. No Comments,but CJP Iftikhar Choudhry Need to Take Suo Moto if His Honour is Neutral,otherwise once again no comments

  18. the ppl who even imagine that nawaz will fall, and imran will come to power have no sence of politics in actual on ground…….as u ppl do not need credibility of book same when u see claiming imran u agree to him………………..so sad it is……………………..when u see musharaff come to power then its good but when u try him then u become against him………………its ur mistake not the shareef and others…….but remember imran khan is even more ineligible and inexperience to run this country out of troubles.

  19. these politicians are not corrupt , We are corrupt because we choose these peoples for us ,thanks

  20. Hmm… Mr Noora should sue the author if the claims made are false.. What do you think @ nooray walon????… 🙂

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