–ARU comprising NAB and FIA will bring back ‘looted money’ to Pakistan
–Pakistan seeks help from German govt to receive information on Swiss accounts
–Says Shehbaz due to pay Rs350m for using prime minister’s plane
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Special Assistant on Accountability Shahzad Akbar on Friday said that the newly constituted Asset Recovery Unit (ARU) comprising National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials will investigate over 10,000 foreign properties owned by Pakistanis.
He said this while addressing a press conference along with Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry.
“ARU members have been selected and we have received details about 10,000 properties owned by Pakistanis in the United Kingdom (UK) and United Arab Emirates (UAE),” he said, adding that details of “at least half of the 10,000 properties were previously available but no action was taken”.
Moreover, it was said that notices have been issued for 300 properties from the list which had been divided into two parts, one for politically exposed people, and one for other citizens.
“The politically exposed people will be investigated in terms of money laundering and will be asked that how they managed to own such properties worth billions of rupees,” he said, adding that the people who were not politically exposed but owned such properties would also be scrutinised as they also committed crime by hiding their properties and evading huge amount of taxes.
He said about half of the above-mentioned properties were already known during the tenure of the previous government, but the previous government committed criminal oblivion by not taking any action against them.
He informed that among these properties, two flats in London were registered in the personal name of former finance minister Ishaq Dar, and these properties were not known to anyone before.
Shahzad Akbar said majority of these properties were `benami’ assets and were registered in the name of wives, children or personal employees of the big names.
“The ARU will submit a fortnightly progress report to the Supreme Court,” he said.
Akbar further said that the task force will ensure that the money sent abroad illegally is brought back.
“In the first stage, we have initiated an inquiry against 895 foreign properties and officers of the FIA and NAB are part of the investigation,” he added.
Furthermore, Akbar said that former finance minister Ishaq Dar “deliberately stopped an agreement” regarding data-sharing with Switzerland, which was supposed to be completed by 2013-14
“After 2013, no information was sought on bank accounts in Switzerland,” he said, adding that “we have spoken to the Swiss government and will speak to other countries as well regarding hundi hawala”.
Akbar said that the treaty would be ratified and acted upon soon.
Following this, the special assistant said that their department found a solution for this, which was to approach the German government, which in 2013 announced that “it had acquired information on Swiss accounts until then, and would make it publicly available to all governments, particularly those of developing countries”.
Despite this, Akbar said the government of Pakistan had not asked the German government for this information.
He further said that once the German government was asked to provide information and when it was received, they would be able to “access information for accounts created, both in the past and in the future”.
Akbar further said that they had quoted India’s example in their request when the sought help from the German government to access information on Swiss accounts.
While Islamabad awaits a response from the German government, Akbar hoped that the government’s vision was kept in mind and the information is provided timely in order for them to start proceedings against the information regarding Swiss bank accounts.
Akbar said that Pakistan had also invited other countries such as the United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, China and the United States with whom it has existing bilateral treaties to revisit these treaties and add similar clauses for the exchange of information.
He said that the previous government’s shortcomings were evident in the arrangement with the US, which allows Washington to access Pakistanis’ details but does not grant similar access to Islamabad as there is no such clause in the agreement.
Furthermore, stating that cases regarding properties owned abroad by Pakistanis are also being heard in the Supreme Court, Akbar said, “First, the top court was alone in its fight against the corrupt but now it has the government’s support.”
The premier’s special assistant also spoke about notices sent to 300 Pakistani nationals who own properties in the United Arab Emirates and stated that the list of the people will be sent to the SC soon.
Akbar further said, “We have details of three housing societies in Dubai.”
“Money is sent abroad through launches,” Akbar regretted and added that PM Imran has formed a task force to draft laws against money laundering and hundi hawala.
Furthermore, he said that millions are being recovered from the accounts of ice-cream vendors and stall owners.
“Fake accounts were created for the purpose of money laundering,” he said, adding that “bank accounts were created in the names of drivers and domestic staff”.
“When leaders are corrupt they draft laws which make it easy for money to be taken abroad. Money can be brought back and its ownership can be proven,” Akbar said.
Moreover, he mentioned that the proceedings have been initiated against those who were named in the Panama leaks.
“If your name was on the Panama Papers list it does not mean that you were involved in corruption, however, if the name appears of someone who held a public office then an inquiry will be conducted against them,” he said.
The premier’s special assistant also alleged that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Mushahidullah Khan “appointed his whole family in Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and also got his treatment done on PIA’s expense and this matter is being forwarded to NAB”.
Speaking to the media, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said, “The task force is being formed in order to bring back the money from abroad and is being headed by Shahzad Akbar.”
He said that the task force was working at such a fast pace which had not be seen in the country’s history of 70 years, adding that the government had issued notices to 157 wealthy people who were not filing tax returns despite having huge wealth. The minister said that the government was also issuing notices to all those public holders who misused the government resources at first stage while at the second stage, they would be forced to deposit all such money to the national exchequer.
“Former Punjab chief minister is due to pay Rs350 million for using the prime minister’s airplane while Senator Mushahidullah also spent Rs10 million for medical treatment abroad,” he added.
Regarding the ongoing encroachment drive, Fawad said that the government was starting from the top and the poor’s camp would not be removed, however, big buildings that were built on illegal properties were being demolished. “So far 4,500 Kanals of land in Islamabad has been procured from the land grabbers,” he added.
Responding to a question, the information minister said that Shahbaz Sharif cannot be a suitable candidate for the slot of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman as he was not a neutral person, adding that the government has proposed the name of Syed Fakhar Imam who has a good fame and was a neutral person.
Replying to a question regarding Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) notice to Prime Minister Imran Khan in Bani Gala, the minister said this is the beauty of ‘New Pakistan’ where no one is above law and everyone is being treated equally.
He said that the appointments made during previous government against the rules and regulations were being removed.
