ISLAMABAD (Staff Report) – As the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) is set to publish a searchable database of over 200,000 offshore companies named in the Panama Papers, the group’s representative in Pakistan, Umar Cheema has disclosed several new names in his latest news report.
Related – Media group publishes lies in the name of Panama Papers, quietly removes them without apology
The newly surfaced names include close aides of PTI chief Imran Khan, former President Asif Ali Zardari, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, and a number of business executives, including:
- Sayed Zulfikar Abbas Bokhari: A close friend and financier of Imran Khan. Bokhari’s father Wajid Bokhari also served as a minister in the interim government of 2008. He owns six offshore companies named K-Factor Limited, Bradbury Resources Ltd, Bayteck Limited, Bayla Trading Limited, Poreim Trading Limited and Ganstam Trading Limited, along with his two sisters.
- Irfan Iqbal Puri: He is considered equally close to Asif Ali Zardari and MQM’s Altaf Hussain. He is said to be a business partner of Zardari and another powerful minister of former PPP government. He also reportedly submitted surety bonds to get MQM chief bailed out in London. He, along with his son, owns IP Commodities Limited, IP Global Limited and Pure Palm Oil Limited, according to the Panama Papers.
- Tariq Islam: A cousin of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. He has been named as owner of Link Investments Limited in the leaked documents.
- Naseer Khan: Health minister of PML-Q led government under Shaukat Aziz. Along with his brother Zaffarullah Khan and his son Muhammad Jibran together, he owns Atwood Investments Limited.
- Sajid Mahmood: The son of renowned businessman Seth Abid Ali. He is a shareholder of an offshore company named Mossgreen Limited.
- Abdul Sattar Dero: A close aide of the Zardari Family. He owns Destiny Investment Development Limited and Simkins International Limited along with Zahida Dero, Fahad Sattar Dero and Fawad Sattar Dero. He was among beneficiaries of notorious NRO order issued in 2007. Dero has also served as MD Port Qasim Authority.
- Shaukat Ahmed: Former president of Karachi Chamber of Commerce, he is the beneficial owner of Global Link Properties Inc. along with his relatives Imran Shaukat, Rashid Bashir and Khurshid Ahmed Sheikh.
- Saba Obaid: Mother of Oscar-winning Pakistani filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy. She owns three offshore companies named Fabrics International Services Limited, Belize Group Limited and Bella Holding Group Limited, along with her daughter.
- Izzat Majeed: A dual-national Pakistani who founded Sachal Studios Orchestra in Pakistan. He is the beneficial owner of Nativus Resources Limited in British Virgin Islands.
- Azfar Hassan: A son of Admiral (Retd.) Muzaffar Hassan. Nabila-Matrix Limited is registered in his name, along with Nadeem Iqbal Saigol.
- Mehreen Akbar: The wife of Ghous Akbar. She is holds shares in four offshore companies named Mark Investment Limited, IMM Gulf Limited, Indigo Properties Limited and Zarmay Investments Ltd, along with her two sisters.
- Munir Monnoo: A Karachi-based businessman, he established Clifton Holdings Services Incorporated in Panama to open accounts in a Swiss bank.
- Valliani family: A Pakistani family which is renowned as fashion and jewellery designers, it owns European American, Investments Limited, Polenta Capital, Ikogenia Trust and Emirates Commerce Limited, in the names of Fawaz Valliani, Zehra Valliani and Sameena Valliani.
Earlier, the first installment of Panama Paper carried names of over 200 Pakistanis. Several politicians and their close relatives were also included in the list. Others included businessmen, judges, lawyers and media owners.
According to ICIJ, the names of over 400 Pakistanis yet remain to be disclosed and all these faces will be revealed in the upcoming searchable online database on Monday (today).
Using the database, users will be able to search through the original documents of Mossack Fonseca to identify the original owners of offshore companies, who reportedly hail from 200 countries and territories.
The database, which is likely to become the largest document cloud online, will comprise of information about companies, trusts, foundations and funds established in 21 tax havens including Panama, Hong Kong, United States and British Virgin Islands.
However, the ICIJ will not be releasing personal information of the owners -such as addresses, phone number, passport numbers and email correspondence- to ensure the safety of these people.
The database will be accessible at https://offshoreleaks.icij.org on May 9 at 11:00pm (Pakistan Standard Time), and people around the world would be able to access it, as per the local laws of their countries.
