NAB to consider Panama Papers for initiation of probe

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) will consider the PanamaLeaks revelation for the possible initiation of an inquiry against those alleged to have offshore companies.

A credible NAB source told The News on Monday that the kind of revelations made in this newspaper’s story filed by Umar Cheema could not be overlooked.The source assured that the top management of the bureau will discuss the matter to decide about the initiation of the inquiry or otherwise.

Over 200 Pakistanis have been identified and the counting is still in progress. However, the list does not include the name of any General — serving or retired. The report though reveals the names owning such offshore companies, it admits that it does not mean that all those having offshore companies have ill-gotten money or are involved in tax evasion or money-laundering.

Leading opposition voice, the PTI chairman Monday demanded of NAB to initiate an inquiry. Husain Nawaz, son of the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has also told the media that he would welcome any such inquiry by NAB. He insisted that the Sharifs did not do any wrong and thus will not be shy to clear their name in any inquiry.

Unlike the PTI chairman, the Pakistan People’s Party is expected not to press the matter for formal inquiry as the PanamaLeaks also talks about a company, owned by the late Benazir Bhutto, her nephew, Hassan Ali Jaffery and Senator Rehman Malik.

Certain other Pakistani names reflected in the PanamaLeaks have also been under the focus of NAB for different allegations.