The Panama Papers scandal intensified around the world on Monday when a journalists’ group with access to the digital cache of documents said to put many of them online.
400 Pakistanis are named in the second set of Panama Papers, including close associates of politicians and families of celebrities along with businessmen including those who registered companies only to open accounts in Swiss banks.
Identities of some of the high-profile figures suspected to be linked with offshore companies are still being ascertained and will, therefore, be published after a complete investigation.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) chairman Imran Khan’s close friend Zulfi Bukhari and Oscar winner Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy’s mother have been named among 400 Pakistanis in the second release of Panama Papers, local media reported Monday.
Former president of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Shaukat Ahmed, ex-managing director (MD) Port Qasim Authority Abdul Sattar Dero, family of Sheikh Abid Hussain who is casually known as Seth Abid, son of former federal health minister Naseer Khan and former Prime Minister (PM) late Benazir Bhutto’s cousin, ex-Admiral Muzaffar Hussain’s sons have also been named in Panama leaks.
Ex-MD Abdul Sattar owns two offshore companies while Seth Abid’s family has at least 30 illegal companies.
Known trader, Irfan Iqbal Puri who has good terms with former president Asif Ali Zardari and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief also owns three offshore companies.
The leaked documents belong to law firm, Mossack Fonseca that have been published by Panama Papers. The paper earlier published leaks in April that alleged around 140 leaders of the world of evading taxes and stashing wealth abroad while 200,000 offshore companies were revealed.
Read more: Opposition parties to hold meeting with parliamentary leaders to discuss ToRs today
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s family was accused among other politicians. Iceland’s prime minister was forced to resign when his name was linked to an offshore company while Spanish minister also stepped down. British Prime Minister David Cameron ended up admitting he profited from an offshore firm started by his father.
PM Nawaz and his family faced criticism from opposition parties mainly PTI chief. Imran Khan demanded the Prime Minister to resign until a judicial commission led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Anwar Zaheer Jamali inquires into the issue.
Opposition parties rejected the Terms of References (TORs) put forth by the government ahead of the probe. Joint TORs were put together by different opposition parties including Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), PTI, Awami Muslim League (AML), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and others. However, the government alleged the opposition of attempting to save their accomplices by omitting a clause from the proposed TORs.
Joint TORs presented by the opposition were rejected by the government in the latest development in the matter.
Senior members and leaders of different opposition parties are scheduled to hold a meeting today to finalise a strategy after government’s disagreement on TORs.
Read more: Govt and Opp ready to talk on Panama probe
