“We will not let this opportunity go to waste”
There are two ways of looking at the troubles coming PML-N’s way in the wake of the so called Panama Papers.
One is, of course, sympathising with the ruling party. Fighting a war on one front, controlling militancy on the other; all the while trying to mend fences with India and Afghanistan, etc, the leak could not have come at a worse time. That, of course, is if you really sympathise with the Nleague and follow their cue. The more dominant narrative, however, is about an unsavoury party that has gone on unchecked, at others’ expense, for far too long. Of course the Sharifs are not the only people, or even the only Pakistanis, mentioned in the damaging leaks. But by virtue of their position and the burden of command, they must accept the spotlight – and the legalities The PTI’s been the quickest to hit the government. It not only makes some valid points, but also generates energy that will help
the party in troubled times of its own.
‘This is a delicate matter so let me break it down and repeat it for your readers. The Sharif family needs to inform the nation about the origin of the money that was transferred to offshore bank accounts’
DNA talked exclusively to Jehangir Khan Tareen to understand the many dynamics at play in the present situation.
Question: Should Pakistanis really be surprised that our democratic political leaders have hidden, un-declared, off-shore companies?
Jehangir Khan Tareen: No. I don’t think that the people of Pakistan would be surprised to know the truth. however, since in the past no allegations against such politicians have been proved in a court of law, the people at large would be surprised if this time around this allegation is proved. This is the reason that the PTI believes it’s a defining moment for Pakistan. If we are able to prove massive tax dodging court, it would be a golden chapter in our history. Let me come to the offshore accounts, which are opened in offshore banks where several governments have introduced tax exemption. We are asking the prime minister and his family members to show the source of this money. This is a delicate matter so let me break it down and repeat it for your readers. The Sharif family needs to inform the nation about the origin of the money that was transferred to offshore bank accounts.
Q: How seriously do you think this matter will be investigated?
JKT: The people of Pakistan will make sure that this matter is investigated and the ruling family is not able to run away with the matter. They have already walked clear out of many dubious situations. They have been making big money with the help of their public offices, they have been evading taxes, and all the time they have been fooling the public with their lies. So this time around, when they have been caught red handed, we will make sure they don’t run away another time. We accept their claim that the Sharifs are business tycoons. We also accept their claim that they have assets worth billions of rupees. We also accept that they are such good business minds that they can make billions with the stroke of their pen anytime. But the nation wants them to answer some basic questions. The nation wants to know that when Ittefaq Foundry was nationalised by ZA Bhutto’s regime how much profit the Sharif family had bagged after paying dividend?
‘Forming the kind of commission the prime minister announced would be mere eyewash. This is the reason the entire nation has rejected the prime minister’s offer. If the Sharif family has nothing to hide, the government should address our demand’
They need to tell us how much tax they paid against the profit they got? The Sharifs also need to inform the nation what was their profit after dividend sharing in 1979 when they got back the Ittefaq Foundry? They also have to tell how much profit they have been pocketing under Ittefaq since the 1980s. They must disclose year-byyear profit made after coming to power. They also need to tell how many sugar mills they founded since coming to the power along with the year-wise profits. We know they have 8-10 sugar mills now. They also need to tell us how much tax they have paid against each sugar mill since then. These questions are mandatory as they will establish the total assets and profits they have acquired out of their businesses. This data would also help understand how much profit they bagged and how much tax they paid to the national kitty. It would then also establish how much they (mis)used their public offices for petty personal gains.
Q: If Sharifs are able to establish that they have made billions through legal means and they have not violated laws, would PTI accept the Judicial Commission’s judgment?
JKT: Yes, we will accept if the Sharif family is able to prove their innocence. But they can’t do it, and we know it. This is why they want to run away again without a fair audit of their accounts. The questions we are raising are essential. Actually, the company’s profit doesn’t mean that the same amount also goes to the pocket of the owner. The owner gets profit after paying the dividend to all stakeholders and paying taxes. So at times, even if a company gets profit of one billion rupees, the owner might not be able to get a penny and all the money might end in paying the dividend. If dividend is not paid, it is called Black Money or illicit money. We know now that the Sharifs have earned profit all these years but never paid dividend. They have never paid taxes and rather in violation of all laws they have made billions. Another thing we want to know is how did they transfer their wealth abroad? Did they send the money through hundi? If the money was transferred abroad through hundi, it will become a case of money laundering. Moreover, if they laundered money, it is illegal business and wants a probe.
‘They have never paid taxes and rather in violation of all laws they have made billions. Another thing we want to know is how did they transfer their wealth abroad? Did they send the money through hundi?’
Q: Why do we always go for judicial commissions, even though they never see the light of day? Is it not more important to get the evidence that the commission would investigate? Would a financial audit not be more feasible?
JKT: Yes, a commission can deliver if we have evidence. This time around, we have evidence which has not been produced by us. This evidence has been provided by chance. Perhaps, Allah Almighty has bestowed this nation with an opportunity to hold its rulers accountable. These are the people who have been looting and plundering this nation’s wealth. Now it’s time this nation has got to hold them accountable. We won’t allow this opportunity go wasted. The Sharif brothers were custodians of the public money. But they have been breaching the trust of this nation since the 1980s. If they themselves evade taxes, how could they collect tax from the poor of the nation? When they themselves are involved in money laundering, how could they enforce laws on others? It is not surprising that they are caught red-handed, this has been their conduct since the past four decades. Since they have been caught now, they would have to divulge all their crimes. They would have to declare all their assets now, and they would have to return the black money they have accumulated.
Q: What would be your strategy if the government doesn’t form a judicial commission under the Chief Justice per your demand?
JKT: Forming the kind of commission the prime minister announced would be mere eyewash. This is the reason the entire nation has rejected the prime minister’s offer. If the Sharif family has nothing to hide, the government should address our demand. Now, what we are demanding? It is very clear. We have asked the prime minister to write a letter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to form a judicial commission to probe the matter. We are not asking the chief justice to head the commission but we are asking the prime minister to request the chief justice to appoint serving judges for the commission. Now the chief justice may appoint any number of judges. The commission may appoint an international firm having expertise in forensic audit through experts of integrity and high skills. The commission may also form a joint investigation team (JIT) with intelligence agencies representatives and forensic experts. Such a commission should probe the matter, trace the money trail, all bank transactions and income of the Sharif family since 1983 and the taxes they paid. Only this might be a transparent and through probe.