Sher ka shikari
Senator (1k+ posts)
How Pakistan's Panama Papers probe unfolded
Plot twists, accusations and 25,000 pages of evidence a look at the case that will determine Nawaz Sharif's fate.
April 3, 2016
Panama Papers leaked; Sharif family under spotlight
Feica/Dawn.The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) makes 11.5 million secret documents available to the public for the very first time. The documents, coming from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca, contain confidential attorney-client information for more than 214,488 offshore entities.
Eight off-shore companies were reported to have links with the family of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his brother, Chief Minister of Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif.
According to documents available on the ICIJ website, the prime minister's children Maryam, Hassan and Hussain were owners or had the right to authorise transactions for several companies.
The leaks breathe a new life into allegations of corruption that the Sharif family has long been haunted by.
At the forefront of the battle is Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, lead by its chairman Imran Khan.
April 4, 2016
'The leaks are God sent' says Imran Khan
PTI Chairman Imran Khan and his party aides consolidate their position on corruption allegations against the prime minister, demanding immediate action by the government to respond to the allegations.
This marks the beginning of what will be nearly a year long effort to resolve the Panama Papers case, also dubbed 'Panamgate' in the local media.
Later that afternoon, Maryam Nawaz tweets what appears to be a statement from the Sharif family spokesman. They are calling the revelations made under the Panama Papers leaks, a "distortion of information".
The statement goes on to clarify that "Maryam Nawaz is not a beneficiary or owner of any of the companies" named in the leaked documents.
April 5, 2016
Under-pressure Sharif announces probe
Realising that silence may deepen the crisis, Sharif takes to the Pakistan Television (PTV) headquarters to address the nation and clear the air. The prime minister begins his speech with a subtle acknowledgment of the fact that he is using state apparatus to address a personal matter.
Visibly perturbed, Sharif says he is open to the formation of a judicial commission to probe his family's alleged finances in offshore tax-havens.
He explains how his family business was ruined by the party of the Bhuttos from the 70s to the 90 and then was slowly built up again. "On Jan 2, 1972, Bhutto took over the foundry in Lahore, and hence our assets were lost in mere moments," Mr Sharif confesses.
"My family was not involved in politics till much later, as such, even before I got into politics, we were an established industrial family," he explained.
The prime minister goes on to speak about how his father established an industrial plant in Makkah, following the military coup in 1999. The plant, he says, was "later sold, and my sons invested the funds into their businesses."
Denying the legitimacy of allegations targeting his family and himself, the prime minister assures the country he is open to legal scrutiny.
April 10, 2016
Khan wants CJP to head commission
Khan wants the government to promptly form an inquiry commission led by the serving Chief Justice of Pakistan, Anwar Zaheer Jamali. To the contrary, the government is keen on having ex-Supreme Court judges populate the bench.
April 13, 2016
Five ex-SC judges refuse to lead inquiry
Still in its infancy, 'panamagate' begins to ingress into the judicial sphere, albeit turbulently. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan reveals that the ex-Supreme Court judges contacted by the government to head the inquiry commission have turned down the offer.
Nisar regrets: All of these judges after taking the time to think over the matter refused to lead the commission without giving any reasons."
April 14, 2016
Frail, Sharif in London for check-up
Nawaz Sharif's mother wishes him before he departs for London Dawn
Despite mounting criticism from local press and political parties, Sharif takes off for London citing a medical check up as the reason for this five-day tour.
A PML-N source reveals: The prime minister was looking quite weak when he visited the Planning and Development Ministry a few days ago and the disclosures of his sons involvement in offshore business definitely had its political and health costs.
The office bearer adds that apparently due to a mistake by surgeons during a previous medical procedure in London, Mr Sharif had bled profusely. He recovered, but not completely, and was advised to take breaks from his engagements for further treatment.
April 16, 2016
PML-N proposes ToRs
Zahoor/Dawn
A government team headed by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar finalises the terms of reference (ToRs) for the proposed inquiry commission being formed to investigate the Panama Papers leaks.
The ToRs are meant to define a scope within which the investigation would take place. Understandably, this is going to be a matter of contention.
Mainly the government's ToRs looked at empowering the proposed judicial commission to look into the following points:
Maryam Nawaz expresses annoyance on PML-N's response not being "robust" enough. The meeting also reportedly resolved that: If at all
the commission is formed it will be the one headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court as announced by the prime minister in his address to the nation.
Despite having been rejected by five ex-SC judges, the Muslim League leadership is still adamant to see a retired judge of the Supreme Court heading the commission. Rumour has it; retired judge Sarmad Jalal Osmany has accepted the responsibility to lead the probe.
The opposition parties, however, are still unclear on how best to go about the probe.
April 19, 2016
Sharif returns to Pakistan
Amidst political turbulence, Sharif returns to Pakistan, eyeing a difficult job ahead of him.
April 22, 2016
'Will resign if proven guilty,' Sharif in second state address
In yet another address to the nation, Sharif announces that his government has decided to formally ask then Chief Justice of Pakistan to set up a judicial commission for investigations into Panama Papers leak.
"I challenge all those who allege tax fraud to come forward and present evidence. If charges are proved against me, I will resign immediately," vowed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Sharif appears visibly piqued and spares no one while targeting his political opponents; the hostile media, the regime of Gen Pervez Musharraf and his allies. He reserves the bulk of his criticism for Imran Khan.
April 25, 2016
Opposition rejects govt ToRs
Rejecting the inquiry commission proposed by the government, leaders from the PTI, PPP, MQM, PML-Q demand the ToRs of any such commission be drafted in consultation with the opposition.
May 1, 2016
Bilawal asks Sharif to step down
Feica/DawnComing out strongly against the government, PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari calls on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to step down, until an inquiry into the money laundering allegations levelled at his family are completed.
As long as the investigations into the Panama leaks are ongoing, you should resign. You can resume [office] when you are absolved of the charges, he said, reminding Mr Sharif of advice he had imparted for the former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani when the latter was facing multiple charges in court.
May 3, 2016
Opposition presents ToRs
After a joint meeting between opposition parties, a set of ToRs have been presented to the government and the media. The ToRs emphasise on initiating the inquiry into off-shore holdings, starting with the Sharif family.
Among other points, the ToRs enlist the following:
May 5, 2016
Govt rejects opposition's ToRs
Rejecting the oppositions draft of the ToRs for a judicial probe, the government indicated it was willing to sit with the opposition and to come up with ToRs that were focused on eliminating corruption and did not target the prime minister personally.
The opposition wants the prime minister in the dock, without touching other politicians whose children also run offshore companies, said Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, alleging that the opposition was not serious about holding an inquiry and only wanted to achieve their political goals by simply levelling allegations.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1316531/how-pakistans-panama-papers-probe-unfolded
Plot twists, accusations and 25,000 pages of evidence a look at the case that will determine Nawaz Sharif's fate.
April 3, 2016
Panama Papers leaked; Sharif family under spotlight
Feica/Dawn.The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) makes 11.5 million secret documents available to the public for the very first time. The documents, coming from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca, contain confidential attorney-client information for more than 214,488 offshore entities.
Eight off-shore companies were reported to have links with the family of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his brother, Chief Minister of Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif.
According to documents available on the ICIJ website, the prime minister's children Maryam, Hassan and Hussain were owners or had the right to authorise transactions for several companies.
The leaks breathe a new life into allegations of corruption that the Sharif family has long been haunted by.
At the forefront of the battle is Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, lead by its chairman Imran Khan.
April 4, 2016
'The leaks are God sent' says Imran Khan
PTI Chairman Imran Khan and his party aides consolidate their position on corruption allegations against the prime minister, demanding immediate action by the government to respond to the allegations.
This marks the beginning of what will be nearly a year long effort to resolve the Panama Papers case, also dubbed 'Panamgate' in the local media.
Later that afternoon, Maryam Nawaz tweets what appears to be a statement from the Sharif family spokesman. They are calling the revelations made under the Panama Papers leaks, a "distortion of information".
The statement goes on to clarify that "Maryam Nawaz is not a beneficiary or owner of any of the companies" named in the leaked documents.
April 5, 2016
Under-pressure Sharif announces probe
Realising that silence may deepen the crisis, Sharif takes to the Pakistan Television (PTV) headquarters to address the nation and clear the air. The prime minister begins his speech with a subtle acknowledgment of the fact that he is using state apparatus to address a personal matter.
Visibly perturbed, Sharif says he is open to the formation of a judicial commission to probe his family's alleged finances in offshore tax-havens.
He explains how his family business was ruined by the party of the Bhuttos from the 70s to the 90 and then was slowly built up again. "On Jan 2, 1972, Bhutto took over the foundry in Lahore, and hence our assets were lost in mere moments," Mr Sharif confesses.
"My family was not involved in politics till much later, as such, even before I got into politics, we were an established industrial family," he explained.
The prime minister goes on to speak about how his father established an industrial plant in Makkah, following the military coup in 1999. The plant, he says, was "later sold, and my sons invested the funds into their businesses."
Denying the legitimacy of allegations targeting his family and himself, the prime minister assures the country he is open to legal scrutiny.
April 10, 2016
Khan wants CJP to head commission
Khan wants the government to promptly form an inquiry commission led by the serving Chief Justice of Pakistan, Anwar Zaheer Jamali. To the contrary, the government is keen on having ex-Supreme Court judges populate the bench.
April 13, 2016
Five ex-SC judges refuse to lead inquiry
Still in its infancy, 'panamagate' begins to ingress into the judicial sphere, albeit turbulently. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan reveals that the ex-Supreme Court judges contacted by the government to head the inquiry commission have turned down the offer.
Nisar regrets: All of these judges after taking the time to think over the matter refused to lead the commission without giving any reasons."
April 14, 2016
Frail, Sharif in London for check-up
Nawaz Sharif's mother wishes him before he departs for London Dawn
Despite mounting criticism from local press and political parties, Sharif takes off for London citing a medical check up as the reason for this five-day tour.
A PML-N source reveals: The prime minister was looking quite weak when he visited the Planning and Development Ministry a few days ago and the disclosures of his sons involvement in offshore business definitely had its political and health costs.
The office bearer adds that apparently due to a mistake by surgeons during a previous medical procedure in London, Mr Sharif had bled profusely. He recovered, but not completely, and was advised to take breaks from his engagements for further treatment.
April 16, 2016
PML-N proposes ToRs
Zahoor/Dawn
A government team headed by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar finalises the terms of reference (ToRs) for the proposed inquiry commission being formed to investigate the Panama Papers leaks.
The ToRs are meant to define a scope within which the investigation would take place. Understandably, this is going to be a matter of contention.
Mainly the government's ToRs looked at empowering the proposed judicial commission to look into the following points:
- To examine information relating to involvement of Pakistani citizens, persons of Pakistan origin and legal entities in off-shore companies in Panama or in any other country.
- Involvement of former and present holders of public office in writing off their own bank loans or those of their immediate family members through political influence.
- Transfer from Pakistan of funds which have originated from corruption, commissions or kickbacks, and to determine whether, in any case referred to above, any law for the time being in force in Pakistan has been infringed.
Maryam Nawaz expresses annoyance on PML-N's response not being "robust" enough. The meeting also reportedly resolved that: If at all
the commission is formed it will be the one headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court as announced by the prime minister in his address to the nation.
Despite having been rejected by five ex-SC judges, the Muslim League leadership is still adamant to see a retired judge of the Supreme Court heading the commission. Rumour has it; retired judge Sarmad Jalal Osmany has accepted the responsibility to lead the probe.
The opposition parties, however, are still unclear on how best to go about the probe.
April 19, 2016
Sharif returns to Pakistan
Amidst political turbulence, Sharif returns to Pakistan, eyeing a difficult job ahead of him.
April 22, 2016
'Will resign if proven guilty,' Sharif in second state address
In yet another address to the nation, Sharif announces that his government has decided to formally ask then Chief Justice of Pakistan to set up a judicial commission for investigations into Panama Papers leak.
"I challenge all those who allege tax fraud to come forward and present evidence. If charges are proved against me, I will resign immediately," vowed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Sharif appears visibly piqued and spares no one while targeting his political opponents; the hostile media, the regime of Gen Pervez Musharraf and his allies. He reserves the bulk of his criticism for Imran Khan.
April 25, 2016
Opposition rejects govt ToRs
Rejecting the inquiry commission proposed by the government, leaders from the PTI, PPP, MQM, PML-Q demand the ToRs of any such commission be drafted in consultation with the opposition.
May 1, 2016
Bilawal asks Sharif to step down
Feica/DawnComing out strongly against the government, PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari calls on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to step down, until an inquiry into the money laundering allegations levelled at his family are completed.
As long as the investigations into the Panama leaks are ongoing, you should resign. You can resume [office] when you are absolved of the charges, he said, reminding Mr Sharif of advice he had imparted for the former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani when the latter was facing multiple charges in court.
May 3, 2016
Opposition presents ToRs
After a joint meeting between opposition parties, a set of ToRs have been presented to the government and the media. The ToRs emphasise on initiating the inquiry into off-shore holdings, starting with the Sharif family.
Among other points, the ToRs enlist the following:
- Whether a respondent, by concealing the ownership and source of income through which the properties were purchased has committed corrupt and illegal practices under the elections/tax laws.
- A special law titled Panama Papers (inquiry and Trial) Act 2016 should be passed to facilitate the investigation into the assets, both foreign and domestic, of the prime minister. The law shall be formed with the consensus of the opposition parties.
- A special commission should be formed, headed by Chief Justice and comprising two other SC judges nominated by him.
- The procedure of the inquiry shall be fully inquisitorial in character The commission should complete its inquiry in relation to the prime minister and his family in three months.
May 5, 2016
Govt rejects opposition's ToRs
Rejecting the oppositions draft of the ToRs for a judicial probe, the government indicated it was willing to sit with the opposition and to come up with ToRs that were focused on eliminating corruption and did not target the prime minister personally.
The opposition wants the prime minister in the dock, without touching other politicians whose children also run offshore companies, said Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, alleging that the opposition was not serious about holding an inquiry and only wanted to achieve their political goals by simply levelling allegations.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1316531/how-pakistans-panama-papers-probe-unfolded
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