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Tuesday, November 26, 2024  
23 Jumada Al-Awwal 1446  

Panama Papers: PTI to submit more evidence in Supreme Court

-File photo -File photo

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Friday claimed that it was going to submit more evidence in the Supreme Court that would further strengthen its stance that Maryam Nawaz was still dependent on his father in financial matters and show the timeframe during which London properties were purchased by Sharif family.

Speaking at a press conference, PTI Vice-Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi along with MNAs Asad Omar and Jehangir Khan Tareen said that Nawaz Sharif claimed that in 2005, he shore up revenue for his children to start business after selling a steel mill in a Gulf state.

He continued that the fact was otherwise, as proofs gathered by PTI endorsed that offshore companies were registered by the family and investments to the tune of millions of rupees were made through these firms before 2005. In 1993, 1995, 1996 and 2004 five flats were purchased in Mayfair through three offshore firms, he claimed, adding the properties were then pledged to obtain loan.

"It can be verified through detailed judgement of Al-Toufeeq case in London High Court," he said. He said the companies incorporated by the family during the period 2001-05 have a clear mention of one of the Mayfair flats as residential address of Hasan Nawaz.

He said moreover previous statements of Kalsoom Nawaz, Chaudhry Nisar and other PML-N leaders are on record admitting the existence of these flats years before 2005. He said according to statements submitted by the PM's children in court, Maryam Nawaz had been receiving money as gift from his father and his father was receiving gift money from his son.

"The income in returns shown by Maryam does not match with her expenses. It is insufficient to meet even her travelling expenses," Asad Omar said, adding the PTI would submit proofs wherefrom she was getting money. "She is dependent to Prime Minister and no one can challenge this fact," he added.

Qureshi said Sharif was telling a lie to the whole nation about their foreign properties and businesses, adding since day first they had been operating as a joint family in terms of running their businesses.

He said Sharif family operated as a single unit when it came to business and Nawaz Sharif and other family members were interlinked. He said during last six months the PML-N leaders were trying to define the definition of sole beneficiary of some offshore firm, but before the court Maryam had been declared as trustee not a beneficiary.

They claimed in 2011 Maryam's name was mentioned in the column of dependent as there was no separate column for independent children. In 2011 in a TV programme Maryam had said that she and her brothers did not own property in London and that even she lived in her father's house.

He said Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan had written a letter to the UK authorities, which investigated financial frauds, about Sharif family's offshore firms registered between 2001-05 and expressed commission's suspicion that money had been laundered.

Asad Omar said the PM's children's statements submitted in the SC consisted of 54 pages and out of them, 40 pages were related to wealth and income tax details of the Prime Minister and her daughter. "Whole wealth and income details clearly show that family is interlinked and money is rotating within family members," he said.

He said the ruling family was trying to hide a crime that's why the PTI expected they (Sharifs) would seek more time from the court in the next hearing.

About the controversial story, Qureshi said that PML-Q, PTI and JI were ready to move a joint resolution in the Senate over the issue of formation of a controversial committee to probe who leaked the sensitive security news.

He said a retired judge, who would head the committee, had connections with Sharif family, and his daughter was also working with Sharif Medical Complex, Raiwind, as a vice-principal.

He said the impartially of the judge who was heading the committee was questionable so the commission under a controversial man was not acceptable.

"The PTI is talking about a very serious issue and a serving Supreme Court judge should head the committee....but the government is trying to sweep the matter under the rug and has consistently been lying about it from the day one," he added.

He further said that he also spoke to Aitzaz Ahsan about it who sought time to consult top party leadership over the issue. All opposition parties will move a resolution against the inquiry committee as the issue involves national security, he added.

-Business RecorderÂ