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Wednesday, 15 May, 2024 I 6 Zil-Qadah, 1445
Rs 20.00 | Vol XIV No 315 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
PAKISTANI POLITICIANS NAMED IN DATA DEFEND OWNERSHIP ‘DUBAI PROPERTY LEAKS’
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Data reveals Pakistani nationals own property worth approximately $11 billion in Dubai
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ISLAMABAD
Bilawal, Interior Minister and PTI’s Marwat assert their properties identified in data already declared
MoNitoRiNg RepoRt
N the wake of an astounding volume of leaked data regarding properties owned by foreigners in Dubai, some of the Pakistani politicians named in it on Tuesday night downplayed the development, claiming that there was nothing wrong with the practice and that properties under their name were already declared. The released data provides a detailed overview of hundreds of thousands of properties in Dubai and information about their ownership or usage, largely from 2020 and 2022. It was obtained by the Center for Advanced Defence Studies (C4ADS), a non-profit organisation based in Washington, D.C., that researches international crime and conflict. Prominent names include PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, his siblings Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari and Aseefa Bhutto Zardari; wife of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Ms Ashraf; Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon; MNA Ikhtiar Baig; son of
PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, Hussain Nawaz; son of General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa, Saad Siddique Bajwa; Senator Faisal Vawda, Sardar Sanaullah Zehri, Akhtar Mengal and PML-N MNA Ehsanul Haq Bajwa. The PPP said there was “nothing new or illegal” in the information since its chairman’s assets were already publicly declared — a sentiment echoed by other politicians as well.
In a response issued an hour after the information was made public, Bilawal’s spokesperson Zulfikar Ali Bader said that the former foreign minister and Aseefa had already declared all their domestic and foreign property with the Election Commission of Pakistan and Federal Board of Revenue. He added that the information was available on the ECP website as well. “There is nothing new or illegal in
this story. Apparently, this is neither news nor a scandal as the information is already in the public domain,” Bader said. He said it was public information that the two siblings had grown up in exile and lived in the same property mentioned in the report with their mother, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, going on to inherit it after her assassination. “Any action or insinuation based on defamation will be challenged in the relevant forums,” Bader warned. It is to be noted that the data reveals that Pakistani nationals own property worth approximately $11 billion in Dubai. This analysis is part of the OCCRP’s ‘Property Leaks’ story but does not specifically concentrate on Pakistanis, who hold less than 2.5% of the total $389 billion in property value. A global investigative journalism initiative has disclosed details of property ownership in Dubai involving global elites, including politicians, sanctioned individuals, and those accused of money laundering and criminal activities.
Grieving over loss of lives, PM Shehbaz announces visit to AJK
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Terms law and order top priority to move on venue of development and prosperity ISLAMABAD
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Reiterates desire to work with all political forces to steer the country out of problems
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Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives during the violent protests in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), announcing he would visit Muzaffarabad within the next few days to hold further consultations over the issue. While addressing the participants of the federal cabinet meeting, the prime minister said that it was a matter of immense pain that few people lost their lives during the protest, besides damage caused to buildings. “It was a very unfortunate incident,” PM Shehbaz Sharif said, adding that a police officer also lost his life, besides several personnel of the law enforcement agencies were also injured. The prime minister and the members of the cabinet also offered Fateha for the departed souls. He emphasized that maintaining law and order in the country was top priority of the government so that it could move on venue of development and prosperity. “Azad Jammu and Kashmir is a jugular vein of Pakistan as declared by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah,” he added. PM Shehbaz further said that he held meetings on the AJK issue and thanked President Asif Ali Zardari, political leaders of the allied parties, leaders of AJK chapter, AJK leadership and parliamentarians for their support and deliberations
leading to decisions over the demands of protestors. With consensus, the demands and requirements of the protestors were met and the federal government announced Rs23 billion package for the people of AJK. The prime minister said that he had talked to AJK PM over the regrettable incident and stressed that voices of the public representatives should be heard and issues be resolved through dialogue. He also appreciated the AJK government that acted with much restraint as few elements were out to create chaos. ‘To work with all political forces in national interest’ Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated his desire to work with
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all the political forces to steer the country out of the confronting problems and put its economy on upward trajectory. He said, “Welfare of the people of Balochistan has been among the top priorities of the government.” These views were expressed by him during his meeting Jamiat Ulema-eIslam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Maulana Abdul Ghaffoor Haideri who called on him here. Members of the National Assembly Usman Badini and Noor Aalam Khan were also present during the meeting, said a press release issued by PM Office Media Wing. During the meeting, overall situation in the country including political was discussed. They also exchanged views on dif-
ferent development projects in Balochistan province. Premier Shehbaz Sharif said that they would provide equal educational and jobs opportunities to the youth of Balochistan. National security issues not to be compromised: Atta Tarar Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar has said that there will be no compromise on national security issues that needed to be discussed at appropriate forums through proper procedure. Addressing a news conference along with Minister for Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar here on Tuesday, he said the Attorney General of Pakistan was the representative of State and his request for in-camera briefing on a specific national security issue, had been taken out of context. Attaullah Tarar pointed out the Attorney General had made the request just for the sake of national security. He underlined the need of fully understanding the sensitivity of national interest, adding that the Attorney General had already clarified his position on the issue. The information minister said the national security issues should be discussed at the appropriate forums. “If a matter needs discussion, the chief justice has the authority to call a fullcourt,” he added. Atta Tarar expressed the optimism that the institutions would collectively work for the national interests of the country.
Imran Khan to appear over video-link on May 16 ISLAMABAD News Desk
The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday mandated that the federal and Punjab governments provide a video-link setup for imprisoned PTI founder Imran Khan, enabling him to participate and present his case in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) amendment lawsuit. “The PTI founder is allowed to present his case through video link at the next hearing if he chooses to,” declared Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, emphasizing the need for video link facilities. This directive was issued during the session on the federal government’s intra-court appeal against the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision, which invalidated several NAB amendments. Khan expressed his intention to personally argue his case. Presiding over the proceedings, the five-member larger bench led by CJP Isa includes Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Athar Minallah, and Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi. This hearing follows a September 2023 decision by a three-member Supreme Court bench that upheld Khan’s challenge to amendments in the accountability laws introduced under the previous Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)-led administration. Chaired by then-Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, alongside Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Ijazul Ahsan, the bench conducted over 50 hearings, ultimately delivering a majority 2-1 verdict that reinstated corruption cases against officials previously absolved due to these amendments. The court’s ruling reinstated all corruption cases involving sums under Rs500 million against various political figures and officials, rendering the amendments null and void. This ruling is significant as it reopens corruption cases against notable political figures including the Toshakhana case against PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, and former PMs Yousuf Raza Gilani, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, and Raja Pervez Ashraf. In response, the federal government lodged an appeal under Section 5 of the SC law against this judgment. The last session for this case was held on October 31, with the case being adjourned indefinitely until today’s hearing. As the hearing began, the CJP limited the discussion strictly to legal arguments concerning the amendments’ validity. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa advocate general supported the Supreme Court’s stance against the NAB amendments, while the attorney general defended the amendments on behalf of the federal government. Justice Minallah questioned the federal government’s right to appeal, stating that only a directly impacted party has standing to challenge a verdict. “This appeal does not meet the criteria set by the Benazir case,” noted the judge. Additionally, with the CJP emphasizing the need for justification behind any ordinance, Justice Mandokhail pointed out the federal government must also rationalize the necessity of such ordinances. Highlighting the misuse of NAB for “political engineering,” Justice Minallah urged the agency to disclose the number of politicians targeted and incarcerated over the past decade. He also instructed the attorney general to ensure the video-link facility was functioning correctly. The hearing was then adjourned until May 16. The NAB amendments not only shortened the tenure of the NAB chairman and the bureau’s prosecutor general from four to three years but also removed all regulatory authorities from under NAB’s oversight. Additionally, the changes mandated a three-year term for accountability court judges and required these courts to conclude cases within a year. Challenging these amendments as unconstitutional, Khan approached the apex court, advocating for their annulment based on their inconsistency with several constitutional articles and fundamental rights. On July 15, 2022, a special three-member bench was constituted to address Khan’s petition, with the first hearing following shortly after, instigated by an application from Khan’s attorney, Khawaja Haris. The petition named both the federation and NAB as respondents.
AGP denies allegations of any interference in judiciary g
Office of AGP and AAG acts as ‘bridge’ to facilitate communication, Awan says in a rare media briefing ISLAMABAD
staff RepoRt
In what is being described as a “rare press talk,” Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan on Tuesday refuted allegations that the government or any other state institution interfering in judicial affairs, asserting the office of the AGP and the AAG acts as a “bridge” to facilitate communication. The developments comes shortly after the IHC began hearing two contempt pleas pertaining to the character assassination of IHC’s Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani on social media and the leaking of Justice Babar Sattar’s personal details. AGP Awan maintained that it is necessary to issue clarification as the matter of the IHC judges’ letter was being presented in a manner that implies a growing conflict between the executive and
the judiciary. “It was requested to hear surveillance-related matters in-camera, to ensure the matter does not go into the public domain to protect the capabilities of our security and intelligence agencies,” the AGP maintained, adding that this was communicated to the relevant quarters. “Neither the government or any state institution can meddle in the affairs of the judiciary and I strongly deny any such impression.” “According to my information, no officer of any security establishment has contacted or can contact [any member of the judiciary]. And the contact that was made, was done through the AGP’s office to ensure sensitive information was not made public.” Earlier in March, six judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) reached out to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) seeking clarity on the alleged intrusion of
executive members, including intelligence operatives, in the judicial matters. Six judges of the IHC—Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, Justice Babar Sattar, Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz—penned a letter to the SJC led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, expressing concerns about the “interference” of intelligence agencies in the affairs of the courts. “We, therefore, request that a judicial convention be called to consider the matter of interference of intelligence operatives with judicial functions and/or intimidation of judges in a manner that undermines the independence of the judiciary.” In their letter, the judges emphasised the necessity of investigating whether there exists an ongoing policy within the executive branch aimed at interfering with judicial affairs.
State institutions might have leaked judges’ confidential data, says Justice Kayani ISLAMABAD
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As the Islamabad High Court (IHC) initiated contempt proceedings on a smear social media campaign against senior judges, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani remarked on Tuesday either the “state institutions might have leaked confidential data or their system was hacked”. An IHC larger bench – led by Justice Kayani and comprising Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri and Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan — commenced contempt of court proceedings on smear social campaign media against Justice Babar Sattar. The high court had formed two separate benches on the issue on May 8 after Justice Sattar and Justice Kayani wrote to IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, seeking contempt proceedings against those involved in leaking personal details and running malicious campaign on social media.
Addressing the state counsel, Justice Kayani remarked that they were going to initiate a contempt of court proceeding in the case. He added that some X (formerly Twitter) accounts and a few hashtags were also part of the case which were used to upload data and run a smear drive. “This is all being done to mount pressure on a judge [Justice Sattar], who is hearing a case,” remarked Justice Kayani. He added that it was a dangerous matter that confidential data of the jurist, his family and his children were made public — information which cannot be attained by anyone else. The head of the larger bench further remarked that state institutions might have been involved in leaking the confidential data, or their system was hacked. There was no rocket science to ascertain the source of data leak, he added.
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