ISLAMABAD: The government on Friday claimed to have detected over 10,000 properties of Pakistanis worth billions of rupees in the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.

It also claimed to have traced two more undisclosed properties of former finance minister Ishaq Dar in London and served notices on Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shahbaz Sharif — who was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in a separate case — and children of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif for “misusing” official aircraft.

“We have detected over 10,000 properties of Pakistanis worth billions of rupees only in two countries, UAE and UK,” Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Accountability Shahzad Akbar said at a press conference with Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry.

PM’s special assistant says notices were served on Shahbaz, ex-PM’s children for ‘misusing’ official aircraft

He said the government had formed an assets recovery unit comprising officials of NAB and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and other relevant departments to investigate thousands of properties held by Pakis­tanis abroad. “We don’t say that all these owners have made properties through illegal means, but they have to declare their assets in tax returns,” he said, adding that the number of assets would be more than that because so far properties in only two countries had been traced.

“Interestingly, information about half of the properties in the two countries were available with previous governments, but no action was taken because any such action could expose the rulers too,” Mr Akbar said.

He said the government had divided the owners of offshore properties into two categories — politicians and other citizens — and served notices on the owners of about 300 properties in the list.

In reply to a question, he said former rulers had sent their money abroad by introducing statutory regulatory orders (SROs) and enacting laws which suited them. He said the two apartments of Ishaq Dar traced in London were in addition to those confiscated recently.

About the wealth allegedly stashed in Switzerland by a large number of Pakistanis, especially politicians, Mr Akbar said Islamabad was in contact with the Swiss government regarding the ratification of a treaty for exchange of information so that accurate information about properties of Pakistanis could be received. “The ratification of the Swiss treaty for the exchange of information, which would give Pakistan information on bank accounts, was supposed to have been completed by 2013-14, but it had been intentionally delayed by former finance minister Ishaq Dar,” he claimed.

Mr Akbar said if the Swiss authorities were reluctant to provide such information, the government would seek it from Germany which had already collected information about properties of Pakistanis and other countries in Switzerland. “India has already obtained such information from Swiss authorities,” he added. He said Pakistan had also invited other countries such as the UAE, UK, China and the United States to revisit bilateral treaties on exchange of information about bank accounts and assets. “Ironically, previous governments have made no effort to revise treaties with these countries as a result Washington can access Pakistanis’ details, but it does not grant similar access to Islamabad.”

Answering a question, Mr Akbar said except the Joint Investigation Team formed by the Supreme Court, no government authority had so far tried to get details of Panama and Paradise leaks.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry alleged that Shahbaz Sharif and children of Nawaz Sharif had misused official aircraft of the prime minister for which a notice of Rs350 million was being sent to the PML-N president. He claimed that Shahbaz Sharif, being the chief minister of Punjab, had utilised government funds for construction of a high boundary wall of Sharif family’s palatial residence in Jati Umrah.

He alleged that PML-N Senator Mushahidullah Khan also got medical treatment abroad for which the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) had to bear Rs10 million expenses. He also accused Mr Khan of getting his brothers promoted in the PIA.

In reply to a question about top-ranking officials in different organisations appointed by the last government, Mr Chaudhry said all these officials would be removed from their posts. The government has three main targets — to check corruption, encourage foreign investment and provide ease to the business community, he added.

About the opposition’s demand for appointment Shahbaz Sharif as chairman the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assembly, he said. “If Shahbaz Sharif is appointed to the post how will he audit the projects launched by his brother Nawaz Sharif? We have asked the opposition to allow the PTI to audit previous government’s schemes and the projects of PTI government should be probed by others.”

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2018