Pakistan PM: Will investigate Pakistan government officials exposed in Pandora Papers

Islamabad, Pakistan (October 6): Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan has pledged to investigate Pakistan government officials that were exposed in the Pandora Papers – a compilation of documents leaked by a group of journalists revealing corruption by some political figures across the globe.

PM Imran Khan made a statement regarding the matter today – noting that he believed it to be his duty to investigate and take action in the matter, as someone who had been elected based on the pledge to rid the long-standing culture of corruption in Pakistan.

Pandora Papers link hundreds of Pakistanis, including high-up political figures, military leaders and their families, to billions of dollars secretly moved through offshore companies – to offshore accounts. They are also alleged to have brought a number of tangible good such as houses and apartments.

Following the leak exposing corruption by multiple Pakistan government officials – Pakistan citizens have been heavily criticizing the government on social media.

Pandora Papers rank amongst history's biggest financial leaks, exposing dealings of global business and political figures. The secret assets were uncovered by a global investigation based on 12 million files leaked to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), which has been working with more than 600 journalists.

With reference to Pandora Papers – Pakistani media outlets report that over 700 government and military officials from the country are named in the papers, including two members of the cabinet, linking them to offshore accounts at foreign nations.

In this regard, Pakistan’s Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin, and members of his family owned four offshore companies – as per Pandora Papers. A financial adviser who handled the paperwork for the companies, Tariq Fawad Malik, told ICIJ that the Tarin family had set up the companies with intention of investing in a bank with Saudi business connections – a deal which did not proceed.

Pandora Papers also alleges that Pakistan’s Water Resources Minister Chaudhry Moonis Elahi pulled out of making planned investments through offshore tax havens after he was warned the investment would be reported to the country's tax authorities. Elahi family’s spokesperson denied the allegations – adding that their assets were declared in accordance with the law.

A previous leak by ICIJ in 2016 – the Panama Papers – which also exposed the secret wealth of world leaders had named former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Shareef and his family, over acts of corruption. Nawaz was forced to resign from his post following the scandal – prior the conclusion of his actual term.

Back then – PM Imran Khan, who was an opposition leader at the time, spearheaded demands to open an inquiry after offshore interests of the country's elite were leaked.

Pandora Papers indicate that more than 330 politicians from 90 countries - use secret offshore companies to conceal over billions of dollars. They include the King of Jordan Abdulla II, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and the royal families of middle-eastern countries amongst others.