Malik denies connection with Panama Papers

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Senator Rehman Malik has categorically denied having any links with Panama offshore bank accounts and challenged detractors that he would submit his resignation if his or his company Petroline FZC has any connection to Panama tax heavens.

“Neither I, nor Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had any account in Panama or any tax heaven around the world and I did ‘legal’ business under United Nation’s Oil for Food Programme,” he clarified while talking to media outside here Monday at the Parliament House.

Senator Rehman Malik said a section of media is misguiding the public by dragging assassinated Benazir Bhutto and his name incorrectly and linking it with Panama Leaks while as matter of fact Panama Leaks are about offshore companies or those operating in any tax heaven.

During the exile period, he said a company namely Petroline FZC was registered in UAE with its three directors being Benazir Bhutto, Hassan Jafferi and him (Rehman Malik) with a total capital of 150,000 Dirham.

Malik said the company did ‘legal’ and legitimate business under United Nation’s Oil for Food Programme and neither has it any asset and account in Panama nor in any tax heaven till its closure in 2005.“We had and have nothing to do with Panama and its Leaks as we have no business with it”, Senator Rehman Malik said.

He said that Indian Express fully backed by strong lobby planted a fake story that was earlier published in The Guardian aimed to malign Benazir Bhutto and his name. He said Pakistan is a democratic country where problems should be settled inside Parliament House rather than on roads.

“Thus a parliamentary body consists of members from all political parties should be constituted to investigate the Panama Leaks,” Malik demanded. He said whosoever is involved in taking Pakistani money abroad using unfair means should be brought to justice. Malik said he has penned a letter to Interpol asking why it failed in implementing international laws against money laundering and asked for necessary action against the government of Panama that provided safe heavens for the money launders.