The second release of the documents related to the Panama Leaks on the website “offshoreleaks. ieij.org may enhance considerably the explosive impact on Pakistan’s political scene that the first release on April 3, 2016 had caused. There are names of 259 businessmen, politicians government officials and other known persons in this new list but the attention and the interest of the people will remain focused on the family of the Prime Minister for the simple reason that he is the Prime Minister. Even though the spokespersons of the government turn by turn have been advancing one and only one argument that the name of the Prime Minister has not been mentioned, but this argument is unlikely to serve the Prime Minister well. Had ZAB himself fired the gun that had killed Ahmad Raza Qasuri’s father?.
The dynamics of fiscal crimes are known to all those who understand that dirty money is not kept in one’s own name, nor in ways that are easily found out. Precisely why, the company found in the name of Maryam Nawaz has one address of Peru and other of Singapore. Saudi Arab also has been mentioned. The address of Hussain Nawaz happens to be in Russia as well.
There are layers after layers, veils after veils of companies which finally lead to the real owners.
Maryam Nawaz has already disqualified herself for public office by lying in public. In an interview with Sana Bucha in 2011 she had forcefully rebuked those persons who had associated her good name with properties abroad. She had said:
“I don’t own any property even in Pakistan. I live with my father, and am dependent on him.”
The question is not whether owning offshore companies is illegal or a crime. The question is whether the money that went into the making or the purchase of these company was tax-paid and clean or earned through deplorable and illicit means.
Keeping money abroad, or forming concealed companies there or buying expensive properties is another kind of moral crime which may have legal cover.
