Opposition asks over 60 questions from Nawaz

ISLAMABAD: The opposition parties have prepared a questionnaire which contains more than 60 questions raising certain pertinent points regarding the alleged money laundering of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s family and the purchase of their properties in the UK. The questionnaire, a copy of which is available with The News, addressed the prime minister.

The first question asked by the opposition parties from the prime minister: “Isn’t it a fact that according to the testimonies of two Peshawar Hawala Dealers (Khaista Khan and Jamshed Khan), the Sharif family illegally sends funds abroad regularly which were to be converted into foreign exchange?”It asked the prime minister whether it is a fact that between 1988 and 1991, an amount of Rs56.896 million was sent out of the country.

“Wouldn’t you admit that during 1988, $7,580,000 was remitted from the Bank of Oman, Sharjah to the Bank of Oman, Lahore, and against this money Foreign Exchange Bearer Certificates (FEBC) worth Rs145.06 million were distributed among close relatives/ members/partners of your family,” asked the opposition.

“Whether it is true that during the period of 1988 and 1991, money laundering of Rs145.056 million was done by you and your family while you were paying only Rs897 as income tax?” it asked.

“Isn’t it a fact that according to your first cousin, Khalid Siraj, initially an amount of Rs140 million was transferred to the Bank of Oman, Sharjah, from Pakistan through Hawala/Hundi and later the Shamrock Consulting Corporation in its Allied Bank Stock Exchange London Branch?” the document says. It further says that whether the PM would agree that the said amount was used in the purchase of Park Lane Apartments during 1993-96?

“Isn’t it correct that the above said money was sent from Pakistan to the Bank of Oman in the UAE, and elsewhere and same money was used for converting it into the foreign exchange currency and then repatriated through remittances in the name of 43 Sharif family members which include your brother, sister, mother, sister in law and children of various ages,” asks the opposition.

It further says that isn’t it a fact Mr PM that the World Bank and United Nations Office Drug and Crime (UNODC) jointly initiated a report for stolen assets recovery, implicating you vide Case Control No. 147 finding you liable under the laws to which Pakistan is also signatory. It is worth mentioning that some of the offshore companies of Nawaz Sharif family include Nescoll Limited, Nielson Enterprises Limited, Shamrock, Chandron Jersey Pvt Ltd.

The opposition through these documents asked the PM that isn’t it correct that above said offshore companies surfaced through Panama Leaks, of which you were directly a beneficial owner and that these offshore companies were established during your official tenure as Prime Minister in 1993?

“Whether it is it correct that the gist of WB and UNODC reports was that you along with your close aides directed following amounts: i: $60 million in Highways contracts to the above said companies owned by you or your associates; ii: secured $140 million in unsecured loans from Pakistan’s State Bank on behalf of companies owned by you or your associates; iii: $ 60 million from government rebates on sugar exported by mills controlled by Mr. Sharif and his associates; iv: $ 58 million from inflated prices paid for imported wheat from US and CAnada to your companies or your associates of various entities,” it said.

It further asks that is it true that record indicates that Maryam Nawaz, your daughter, is the beneficial owner of two companies which were set up in 1993-94 and during the establishment of these offshore companies the age of Maryam Nawaz, Hussain Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz were below the age of majority (less than 18 years of age)?

“Isn’t it true that according to the investigation, the actual owner/beneficiary of the above said companies was you who injected huge sums of money through Hawal/Hundi during your time in Public Office and later this money was never declared in your income tax returns and this plundered money was later used to purchase properties in New Zealand Spain, Belgium, France, UK, USA, KSA, and UAE,” says the document.

The opposition through this document further asked that whether it is true that Nescoll Limited, Nielson Enterprises Limited, Coomber Group Inc and Hangon Propert Holdings Ltd are 4x companies owned by Maryam, Hussain and Hassan Nawaz?

Is it true that the source of income shown clearly contradicted the stance made by Sharif family as it was laundered from PAkistan through illegal means, the document says.

“Isn’t it true that Hangon company itself was purchased along with its stock in 5.5 million pounds by Hassan Nawaz in 2007 from Liberian citizen? Isn’t it true that Nielson Holdings Limited was incorporated on April 14, 1994 and both of them subscribed the services of Mossack Fonseca on July 26, 2006 and Minerva Services Limited, a British Virgin Island based corporate service provider, acted as proxy shareholder being represented through Neel Sehai and Mark Andrew? Isn’t it true that Mossack Fonseca was their administrator when Nescol, Nielson and Coomber obtained mortgage of seven million pounds from Swiss Bank through these companies?” it asked.

“Isn’t it true that in the meanwhile, Bank of Scotland sanctioned a loan of unknown amount to Hassan-owned Hangon for the purchase of property at 1Hyde Park Place, London,” the documents say.

The opposition through this document also asked the prime minister that “if he would admit that the London solicitors Dibb Lupton Boroomhead, manages these properties and pays the utilities bills and council rates and this has been done on the instruction of Mr. Urs Specker of Ansbacher Trustee AG, Zurich Switzerlan- a nominee of both the aforesaid offshore companies?”

It further says that whether it is true that Mr Urs Specker takes instructions from Hans Rudolph Wegmuller of Zurich, a director of Banque Paribas es Suiss and Ansbacher that Mr Wegmuller manages Sharif’s $50 million oversees investments and value of the London properties of Sharif’s family is in the tune of billions of rupees?

Raising question about some individuals the opposition asked that would the PM agree that in August 1992, Javed Kayani opened 3 foreign currency accounts in the name of Sulman Zia, Muhammad Ramzan and Asghar Ali at Habib Bank AG Zurich, Lahore with deposits of less than $300 each and the purpose of these accounts was to launder funds from oversees for use as collateral against loans to be extended to Sharif family companies?

It further asked that Isn’t it true that during the course of investigation, it has been revealed that these individuals do not exists and their ID Cards were fictious and foreign exchange and travelers cheques worth $ 37,94762 were deposited in those accounts on the basis of which Dollar Bearer Certificates (DBCs) worth US $ 49,20,000 million were issued?

Isn’t it true that the Bank of America, and Citibank were pressurized into sanctioning substantial loans in respect of Hudaibiya Engineering pvt. Ltd and Hudaibiya Paper Mills ltd, companies owned by Sharif family against the cash deposits?

“Wouldn’t you agree with the fact that the address of Ishaq Dar at Lahore was used in the account opening forms of Bank of America and both Kashif Mehmood Qazi and Nuzhat Gohar Qazi reside in the UK and neither was present in Pakistan at the time the accounts in their names were opened?

“Isn’t it true that the handwriting analysis shows that the accounts were opened and operated by Javed Kayani and in total $20,00,000 was paid into the account of Kashif Mehmood Qazi and the money was used as collateral against a loan worth Rs 60 million obtained by Hudaibiya Engineering Pvt Ltd from Bank of America?

“Wouldn’t you agree that the directors of Hudaibiya Engineering Ltd include, Mian Hussain Nawaz, Mian Nawaz Sharif, Mian Shahbaz Sharif, Mian Abbas Sharif, Mian Muhammad Sharif?

“Isn’t it correct that according to official documents of the company house United Kingdom submitted by Hassan Nawaz Sharif’s flagship investments Management Ltd were only having 5,118 GBP whereas its net loss was 1,514 million pounds and contrary to this financial statement, Hassan Nawaz remitted $3.836 million in 2013-14?

“Isn’t it true that as per financial declerations of Hassan Nawaz, his company’s net liabilities are exceeding than of its profits but the actual scenario heavy amount of 42.5 million pounds (Rs 6.375 billion) were lended to purchase properties at 1-Hyde Park, London. This amount forms the part of laundered amount from Pakistan obtained and accumulated through malfeasance, undue influence and corrupt practices?” the opposition questioned.