Lt Gen (retd) Asim Saleem Bajwa, the special assistant to the prime minister on information, has strongly denied allegations levied against him. The allegations regarding the concealment of assets levelled by a journalist in a report published on a little-known website.
“The growth of the Bajwa family’s business empire in the United States and later in Pakistan directly matches the rise in power of retired general Asim Saleem Bajwa, who is now chairman of the country’s massive China-financed infrastructure project and a special assistant to the prime minister,” the report, penned by journalist Ahmed Noorani and published on Fact Focus, had stated
Lt Gen Bajwa refutes allegations made against him
In a detailed rebuttal released on his official Twitter handle Thursday night, Asim Bajwa, who is also the chairman of CPEC Authority, dismissed the allegations as “false and incorrect”.
“I strongly rebut the baseless allegations levelled against me and my family. Alhamdolillah another attempt to damage our reputation belied/exposed. I have and will always serve Pakistan with pride and dignity,” he wrote on twitter before categorically addressing the allegations levied against him.
Read more: SEZs, roads, motorways & energy projects under CPEC to change fate of country: Asim Bajwa
He pointed out that the allegations onto his wife holding a large share in business abroad was false since she had forgone all of her ownerships. He stated that all of her investments had been disinvested on 1/6/2020 while the statement mentioned in the article is from the 22/06/2020.
SAPM Bajwa said all of the allegations – including the one that his brothers’ business in the United States and its growth is relatable to his promotion in the Pakistan Army – are “materially false”.
He mentioned how his brothers had successful careers of their own and could hence afford the investment worth $54458 they made in various businesses.
We r best nation with invincible AFs,world recognising.Thanks all spec media 4 unwavering https://t.co/Jqvgz6TeaB of luck MG Asif Ghafoor-2 pic.twitter.com/3vbi3Uoa4P
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) December 25, 2016
He added that in “the news broken by Mr. Ahmed Noorani on an unknown website on 27.08.2020” regarding the businesses and properties owned by his family members “with sweeping allegations regarding their evaluation” and authenticity.
The PM’s aide also said that in June this year when he had declared his assets as SAPM his wife was neither an investor nor a shareholder in any business, including that of his brothers.
Wife had disinvested interests prior to asset declaration for SAPM
“My wife had disinvested all her interests at 1/6/2020 in any entity abroad and such fact has been duly documented in the official records in the USA,” he wrote in the rebuttal.
The purpose of the news item is to malign my reputation “if one looks at actual figures without any prejudice”, he added.
Regarding claims about his brothers’ business, Lt Gen (retd) Bajwa clarified that the Bajco Global Management, LLC doesn’t own any company as it is just a management company which provides services to all Bajco-related businesses on a fee basis.
“Bajco Global Management, LLC does not have any ownership interest in any Papa John’s in the US, DQ and UAE or in any real estate,” he added.
The PM’s aide also set aside the assertions that his bothers’ company, Silkline Enterprises, was formed to acquire CPEC related contracts. The company has only provided human resources to industries situated in Punjab’s Rahim Yar Khan district, he added.
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The CPEC Authority chairman also provided details of the businesses owned by his children.
The private firm, Scion Builders and Estate, which is also registered with Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and owned by one of Bajwa’s sons has never done any business and dormant since its formation, according to the statement.
Regarding another company, Lt Gen (retd) Asim Bajwa said his son who owns 50 per cent share in Himalaya (PVT) Ltd is a very small firm and during the last three years it made a nominal profit of only Rs500,000.
Krypton, mining and mineral firm, which the journalist alleged that Bajwa’s one of the sons acquired while his father was posted in Balochistan “has always been dormant and never done any business”.
He said that the “news item has been spread to malign my reputation.”
GVS News Desk