Nawaz's retail therapy gets Twitter talking

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif continues to shop at the fanciest boutiques in London


News Desk April 19, 2016
PHOTO: FAHEEM SIDDIQUI

The chorus for resignations and inquiries into ill-gotten wealth may be growing but Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif it seems has simply turned  a deaf ear to them.

Spotted, once again, at a fancy boutique in London, the premier isn't going out of his way to stay out of the news. But as they say, a little retail therapy never hurt nobody.

PM Nawaz departs for London amid Panama Leaks controversy

In the middle of an unfolding scandal over his family’s offshore wealth, the premier flew to London on April 13 for what his close aides described as a “medical checkup.”

While a video of PM Nawaz at a hospital in London made rounds, pictures of the premier have also surfaced at Scabal, a bespoke tailoring and luxury fabric store, as well as a Rolex outlet at Harrods.

According to reports, the premier along with his son and other staff, went shopping at Harrods and dined at an exclusive restaurant in London.



Earlier, a retail assistant at Scabal had taken to Instagram to post a picture with the premier as he visited the boutique located on London's Savile Row. However, Sander Heyns, the retail assistant, removed the picture from his Instagram page a day later.



Netanyahu cancels dinner reservation at restaurant of Nawaz's choice

It is not known whether and what the premier bought during his shopping trips. However, Prime Minister Nawaz’s expensive taste is no secret. In 2013, the premier caused uproar in the National Assembly as PPP’s Shazia Marri revealed a PML-N leader wore a $4.6 million watch. ZeeNews of India and other media outlets at the time reported that it was none other than Nawaz Sharif who was wearing the watch, a Louis Moinet “Meteoris” that does indeed fetch a price of $4.6 million.







The premier was also seen at the Saarc Summit last year with a Gucci scarf wrapped around his neck (pictured above). But recent photographs of his expensive shopping habits emerge as the opposition questions the inclusion of his family in Panama Papers – one of the world’s biggest tax leaks. Panama Papers have revealed that three of Nawaz's children controlled shell companies through which they owned expensive residential properties in London.

Panama Papers exposé: Opposition divided over demand for PM’s resignation

Nawaz has rejected any allegations of money laundering, claiming that his children have legitimate businesses abroad, and has called for the establishment of an inquiry commission.

Before leaving for London for the medical check-up, the prime minister had tasked the finance minister to engage the opposition parties in an effort to build consensus over a mode of investigation into revelations in the Panama Papers that the Sharif family were among dozens of world politicians who had secreted their wealth in offshore holdings.

The timing of Nawaz’s visit prompted rumors that he may not return until investigations are complete. But his spokesperson Mussadiq Malik said the prime minister would return to Pakistan early Wednesday as doctors have given him a clean bill of health.

#Rolex has been trending in Pakistan since the picture leaked.











And then there's this gem for some perspective.

COMMENTS (17)

Gaz | 7 years ago | Reply @Humza: People like you are the reason for the mess in Pakistan not Nawaz or Zardari. You are giving him blond support, hus business failed decades ago they were just front to launder money, as for growth wr still bo where near the growth levels of 9% during the Musharaf era, Nawaz is on same level as PPP around 4.5%.
Lolz | 7 years ago | Reply @Humza: Why would an industrialist choose to pay only Rs. 460 as his income tax for three years from 1993 to 1995?
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