Khaqan Abbasi challenges critics, denies possessing illegal wealth

Dawn.com Published July 30, 2017

Former petroleum minister and PML-N's nominee for interim prime minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, speaks to the media alongside Maulana Fazlur Rehman.—DawnNews screengrab

The PML-N’s nominee for interim prime minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, on Sunday challenged his critics to prove irregularities in his finances, saying “whoever wants to file a reference against me should feel free to do so”.

Abbasi was speaking to the media following his meeting with Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman in the capital.

Speaking on Nawaz Sharif's disqualification by the Supreme Court, the former petroleum minister said, “To my understanding of legal matters, there is no harm in possessing an iqama — it’s just a visa — but nowadays, laws are being interpreted in ways that are stranger than ever.”

“I have disclosed all my assets and their details are published in the Pakistan Gazette. So those levelling baseless allegations [against me] should check their own acts first,” he maintained.

When asked about the speculations regarding the involvement of the military in the PM’s ouster, Abbasi said, “There are no two sides in this country; we all are one and work for the betterment of this country in a united way.”

Responding to a question regarding whether Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan would be included in the next cabinet or not given the recent rifts, the interim PM nominee said that the decision had not been taken as yet. "Chaudhry Nisar has always been a part of PML-N and it will always be that way for us."

PML-N leaders, in a parliamentary committee meeting headed by ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday, had decided that Nawaz's younger brother, Shahbaz Sharif, should take over as the party's leader in the Parliament.

Additionally, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who was until Friday the petroleum minister, would take over as interim prime minister till the time Shahbaz is elected to the Parliament, and then to the prime minister's office.

Abbasi, during the meeting, said that the party had made a decision and everyone had acted on it. "There is no conflict in the party. We may have given in, but history will not accept this decision [to disqualify Nawaz Sharif] — the nation has not accepted this decision."

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Comments (23) Closed

izharulhaqadeeb

Jul 30, 2017 05:41pm

Son of a gentleman carries the same values of being honest. but he is involved in a number of dubious events like LNG, Oil terminal etc. Given a good cabinet he will have no ripples. But when selection of ministers will come in, break up of PML N is likely. IK will have a chance to ride in.

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NACParis

Jul 30, 2017 06:04pm

Iqama is a visa no doubts about it but one can only obtain it if he has a registered company. In the past one owning a property could obtain it but as it is only issued by the sponsor therefore the property law was changed.

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Harmony-1©

Jul 30, 2017 06:28pm

These Ikamma visas are another scam for the ruling elite. The money goes to a Swiss account. Swiss banks cannot reveal this to Pakistan authorities when asked because they claim the account holder is a UAE resident. This is why so many ministers have Ikamma to avoid taxes and hide their corruption!

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Dr I Khalid

Jul 30, 2017 06:42pm

Lawrence College, glamorous UCLA and I think George Washington University educated. Worked as an engineer inSaudi Arabia. Founder of Air Blue. Commercial pilot license holder. The only dark cloud is Qatar Gas deal at controversial prices. But no prima face evidence of any assets beyond known resources. Good choice. We wish him well.

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khansaheb

Jul 30, 2017 07:05pm

Shahid Khaqan is an honorable and honest person, he will lead the country honestly, his declared assets are more than any other MNA from PML N and he pays more tax than entire PPP combined please check the records. Wish you good luck

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Ahmad

Jul 30, 2017 07:11pm

@Dr I Khalid The nation welcome the gentle Abbasi with decent background .

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Muhammad Ghaus Qureshi

Jul 30, 2017 07:55pm

It is sad that Mr. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi starts with a factually incorrect statement that an Iqama is just a visa; it's a Residence Permit and is only granted to expatriates who have employment in a middle east country. Iqama holders in KSA, for example have to apply for an Exit and Re-entry visa!

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Psych

Jul 30, 2017 07:58pm

Iqama is a specific type of visa which allows you to work, earn and invest in that country. The benefits are that it entitles you to transfer your money by bank transfers to other countries such as Switzerland and Luxembourg (and never to the country of your origin). This is fine so that when someone from you own country wants to inquire about your wealth; the banks and governments and can decline their request as the money is presumed to have been earned outside Pakistan. (Which is never the case).

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moejazze

Jul 30, 2017 09:57pm

Iqama is a conflict of interest

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Adil306

Jul 31, 2017 12:17am

Mr. Abbasi question of legality of iqama will be fully answer and challenged by Sheikh Rasheed. Disastrous performance of PIA was under the reign of Mr.Abbasi. And yet the contract of LNG will expose soon.

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Hamid Khawaja

Jul 31, 2017 12:47am

If the iqama is issued to a government official by a foreign business company, it is different because there is a conflict of interest. That Company can be given concessions which can translate into large amounts of money, which is against the interest of Pakistan.

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Hamid Khawaja

Jul 31, 2017 12:47am

@Harmony-1© Absolutely right.

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Zahir

Jul 31, 2017 02:19am

Khakan Abbasi is giving out confidence similar to NS. He will also have reservations with the NAB reference & judgment against him similar to NS.

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Dr saifullah jogezai

Jul 31, 2017 04:19am

Iqama is the way to hide corruption money for elite class because through iqama accounts corruption money become transfer and tax money also save .

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Jaredlee67

Jul 31, 2017 05:12am

Look at him and people around him in this news item's picture. It is written all over their faces: We are corrupt and will never learn from lessons of others. So, Pakistanis, teach them a lesson so they become a lesson for others.

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Akil Akhtar

Jul 31, 2017 06:15am

The sole objective of the political parties in Pakistan seems to be to get into power... not to govern or deliver.....they think them winning is above every other consideration even national security.

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Qamar

Jul 31, 2017 07:00am

@Dr I Khalid . How did he have the money to start an airline??? He did not have any known sources to have accumulated enough wealth for establishing an airline.

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Aziz Meenai

Jul 31, 2017 07:11am

Iqama is not a visa but a Residence Permit. It allows you to open BANK ACCOUNTS which are not under jurisdiction of SBP. Why does a Minister need an Iqama when they already have a diplomatic passport? As journalists it is your duty to ask pointed and pertinent questions and ask these MNAs/ministers to give straight answers. Beating about the bush does not get us anywhere.

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Jul 31, 2017 09:20am

Foreign citizens who enter Saudi in order to 'work or reside' will need a Iqama, in addition to a visa.

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M. asghar

Jul 31, 2017 03:46pm

The Justice's judgement is the last word till the Justice itself decides other wise and everything else from anybody is just a noise.

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Akbar

Jul 31, 2017 04:04pm

No theif accepts his crime. Can someone give just one example of such acceptance?

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Izaz

Jul 31, 2017 08:50pm

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Alee

Aug 01, 2017 05:22am

He is son of an air-commodore. I from my personal experience know for sure that air commodores arent that rich that they can start a complete airlines all by themselves. He went to USA for studies and then later met shareefs in Saudia while he was working their. And from then onwards he became rich just like Shareefs . He was made chairman PIA and then he started his own airlines. Wow. What an entrepreneur. I find nothing in him except the benefactions he has received from shareefs.Perhaps he is just a front man of shareefs for running their businesses.

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