PM Nawaz, his wife and son have also refused to accept the notices through their employees. PHOTO: AFP /FILE
LAHORE:
The Lahore High Court on Tuesday summoned at least 24 politicians and notables – including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his wife Kalsoom and son Hussain – asking them to submit their replies to a petition that demands politicians bring their foreign assets back to Pakistan.
Apart from the premier’s family, these politicians and other respondents include: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, his former wife Jemima Goldsmith Khan, former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani and his wife, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, former president Asif Ali Zardari, Bahria Town CEO Malik Riaz Hussain, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, former religious affairs minister Ejazul Haq, former commerce minister Humayun Akhtar Khan, PTI Vice President Shah Mahmood Qureshi, MNA Faisal Saleh Hayat, former Punjab chief minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Sindh Governor Ishratul Ebad, Ghulam Mustafa Khar, former interior minister Rehman Malik, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Fazlur Rehman, Pakistan Peoples Party patron-in-chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, former president Gen (retired) Pervez Musharraf, PPP senator Aitzaz Ahsan and his wife Bushra Aitzaz, and advocate Asma Jahangir.
Barrister Javed Iqbal Jafree had originally filed this petition in 1996 against political leaders and later amended it to add more names.
On Tuesday, a single bench, comprising Justice Khalid Mahmood Khan, held the early hearing of the latest petition filed two weeks ago. The court was told that respondent Malik Riaz had been served through his admin officer, Humayun Khan, who refused to accept the notice through his legal officer as the property developer “has no concern whatsoever with this case”.
Chaudhry Shujaat, too, refused to accept the notice but he has been served through affixation, Jafree told Justice Khan. PM Nawaz, his wife and son have also refused to accept the notices through their employees. Meanwhile, Shahbaz Sharif had been subpoenaed and so has Yousaf Raza Gilani via his secretary. However, Shah Mahmood Qureshi had not been notified as his address is not available to the court.
Justice Khan directed the office to delete the name of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto as she had died.
The judge observed that the petition was of public interest and it was appropriate that the respondents be served notices through a newspaper proclamation in their personal capacity with a directive to file a reply on or before the next date of hearing.
Barrister Jafree, in his petition, stated that the respondents transferred at least $300 billion to foreign countries through money laundering, inflicting a huge loss on the national exchequer.
He said these politicians had not yet submitted their affidavits about money laundering despite repeated court orders. Pakistan would have no need to seek foreign loans if assets of politicians were brought back to the country, he pleaded.
Barrister Jafree asked the court to issue directions to these politicians to bring back their assets to Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 21st, 2014.
COMMENTS (6)
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They will never bring their money back - they're above the law. They don't even pay taxes, what makes anybody think they will bring money back into the country. They would lose money on the exchange and its not prudent to get rid of one's golden parachute (or exit plan).
Every person not just the politicians who has ruled Pakistan and been a member of cabinet be given a chance to explain their hi standard of living without paying taxes. The very hi standards of generals and other paid govt servants be fully investigated. Not too long ago a larger bench of SC had determined that ISI had bribed rightwing politicians and stole election by paying huge sums. How much unaccounted money do they have when they can distribute hundreds of millions at will in bribes? How much has been going in theiri own pockets? In addition those leaders who have never worked for an honest living and are living large without paying much in taxes must be pursued. Accountability should be even handed and across the board. That is the only way to keep salaried govt servants honest.
You know why the assets are outside? Because the gov't and anyone in parliament knows Pakistan economy is going to hit rock bottom. Why keep money in Pakistan when you can have it in nice stable Swiss account or US treasury? Also is Jemmimah Pakistani citizen? Don't know what she's doing on the list.. Maybe because her dad is a billionare?
Barrister Javed Iqbal Jafree and the honorable Justice Khalid Mahmood Khan are applying the laws of Pakistan as applicable to every citizen of Pakistan. Let us wait for the results.
Great! At least have this process start. It may not go too far but still it is a good start for these (poor) politician to explain their sources of income and how they built their empires outside of Pakistan.
They are untouchable, dont even think about it