News Analysis |
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) completely rejected the claims of the government that co-chairman PPP Asif Ali Zardari has any Benami properties. The government estimated that around 32 properties belong to the former president, which is to be confiscated soon.
According to details, PPP Information Secretary Senator Moula Bux Chandio held a press conference on Wednesday and said that the party categorically denies that Zardari owned any Benami properties. He challenged the government to approach the court if it had evidence in this regard rather than holding press conferences.
PPP’s Information Secretary stated that the opposition has numbers and the Senate chairman would be from the opposition benches.
Chandio highlighted that the former president has declared whatever is in his possession. He repeatedly challenged the government to approach the court of law if there is any verification against the PPP co-chairman.
He also commented on the current move against the chairman senate. PPP’s Information Secretary stated that the opposition has numbers and the Senate chairman would be from the opposition benches. “The PTI government has miserably failed on all fronts and is busy to blame game just to hide its failures,” he said. He slammed the government for its alleged inability to deal with the economic challenges the country is facing at the moment.
Read more: Why Should Asif Ali Zardari be arrested? NAB tells IHC
Government’s version
It is worth noting that on Tuesday, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Accountability, Shahzad Akbar, has declared that the government will take legal action against the 32 Benami companies under Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari.
Akbar was addressing a press conference along with Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Syed Ali Haider Zaidi, the PM’s special assistant said strict action would be taken against Benami properties as per the law of the country and the money recovered from such properties and companies would be deposited to the national exchequer.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) completely rejected the claims of the government that co-chairman PPP Asif Ali Zardari has any benami properties.
They further emphasized that Prime Minister Imran Khan would now receive the briefing on a fortnightly and monthly basis.
Shahzad Akbar explained that as per law all benami properties of Zardari will be confiscated if he failed to produce documents concerning the legality of such properties within 60 days. While sharing details, he said that these benami companies included sugar mills, trading companies, construction companies, cement factories, automobile manufacturing companies, holding companies, consulting firms and gas companies etc.
Read more: Asif Ali Zardari rejects JIT’s report, requests SC to dismiss it
Moreover, he claimed several benami plots in posh areas of Karachi had also been identified. He mentioned how the JIT [joint investigation team] report had pointed out that Asif Zardari “remained involved in toppling the state systems by establishing even a bank without implementing legal formalities and paying capital”.
The government estimated that around 32 properties belong to the former president, which is to be confiscated soon.
He claimed that when in 2013-14 the State Bank of Pakistan had asked for payment of the capital they paid it through local accounts from fake companies. He noted that so far four references were filed against him out of the expected 30 references.
Akbar said the government had started taking action in line with the Benami Act 2017, as earlier it was inactive due to the absence of rules which now have been formulated by the government.
Read more: Is Asif Ali Zardari afraid of accountability?
The government would soon start confiscating the properties of sons and sons-in-law of the Sharif family who have been declared as proclaimed offenders by the court. Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Syed Ali Zaidi, mentioned that the country’s wealth was shifted abroad through money laundering schemes, causing huge losses to the national exchequer.
He commented that Asif Zardari had established sugar mills and other properties by threatening the citizens and people, adding how Uzair Baloch had also accepted that Zardari made all his properties and assets by using his influence or through threats.
It is yet to be seen if the government shall take further actions or share details with the media about the undeclared Benami properties of Asif Ali Zardari.