A serving and a retired judge also figure in Panama Papers

Both reject any impression of wrongdoing

ISLAMABAD: Two members of legal fraternity have been identified in the leaked record of Panama papers that include a serving high court judge and a retired judge, documents of a legal firm, Mossack Fonseca, reveals that International Consortium of Investigative Journalists shared with The News, its media partner in Pakistan.

Documents don’t indicate the companies under reference have been used for illegitimate purposes as they have only provided details given below that follows version of the named individuals.

As many as two companies registered in British Virgin Island have been linked with Lahore High Court’s Justice Muhammad Farrukh Irfan Khan and his daughter.

The record of Anrol Limited, registered on April 14, 2000, shows Muhammad Farrukh Irfan Khan and Maria Farrukh Irfan Khan have served/serving as its directors. So is in the case of Tramalin Limited, registered on July 24, 2003.

Muhammad Farrukh Irfan Khan was appointed Tramalin’s director on October 18, 2004, and resigned on July 1, 2012, that coincides with the replacement of her daughter, Maria Farrukh Khan, on the same date.

His appointment date as Anrol’s director is November 25, 2002, from which he resigned on October 11, 2011, leaked record shows. He was inducted as high court judge on February 20, 2010, as declared on LHC website, indicating that he had been running the company after becoming judge. Maria Farrukh Irfan Khan was appointed director on the day her father resigned from Anrol.

Anrol has been used for purchasing property in London through loan facility granted by banks. Details are as follows: Loan facility offered by Bank of Scotland on Dec 21, 2000, (Pound Sterling 303,000) was used for the purchase of the dwelling house known as Plot 13, Westwood Pembroke Road. Another facility from the same bank of GBP341,000 was used for Plot 14, Westwood Pembroke Road. The company had also been served by directors other than Muhammad Farrukh Irfan Khan and her daughter before their appointments.

Yet another loan facility was signed by Anrol on August 1, 2012, with Standard Chartered (Jersey) Limited of PO Box 80, 15 Castle Street, St. Helier, Jersey, JE4 8PT. This loan of GBP800,000 was used for the purchase of following two properties: Flat 103 and flat 104 situated at Forset Court, 104 Edgeware Road, London, W2 2RE. Activity of second company, Tramalin Ltd, has also been described by Miss Maria Farrukh Irfan Khan as “to buy property to produce a rental income”.

Justice (R) Malik Muhammad Qayyum has also been identified along with his wife in connection with a Panama-based company, Fernbridge Resources Inc, registered on August 17, 2012. He was attorney general by that time.

The company’s directors are Panamian citizen: Jose Jaime Melendez, Mizrella Tunon and Lizet Moreno. A board of director’s resolution on December 3, 2015, decided opening an account in the name of the company, Fernbridge Resources Inc with LGT Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. The resolution further reads: “That Mr. Justice Retd Malik Muhammad Qayyum and Mrs. Rukhsana Qayyum with individual signature power is appointed authorized signatory on the bank account of the Company.”

Another document indicates the company’s account at Julius Baer, a Swiss bank. Copies of the passport of Qayyum and his wife have also been found among files of the Fernbridge Resources Inc. 

As for as the versions of the named individuals are concerned, Justice Muhammad Farrukh Irfan Khan and his daughter, Maria Farrukh Irfan Khan were sent email on March 7, 2016.

An email received on April 4 by Maria Farrukh Irfan Khan reads: “The information provided by you is inaccurate and irrelevant. We are in full compliance with all laws of every jurisdiction that we may be subject to. In the event that you publish any inaccurate, proprietary or confidential information we reserve our rights to take action as appropriate under the law. If you still need any further information you may contact our taxation advisor Mr Naeem Sheikh.” Naeem Sheikh was not available for comments despite repeated calls.

Following is the reply of Justice (R) Malik Qayyum through an email on March 30: “The contents of your email and attached pdf are denied as laid. M/s Fernbridge have been a client of mine and as such attorney-client privelege attaches, and no further comment can be made by me. This email is being sent without prejudice.”