With Nawaz Sharif failing to justify the source of funds for setting up the Al-Azizia and Hill Metal Establishments, the accountability court sentenced him on Dec 24 to seven years in prison, imposing hefty fines of Rs1.5 billion and $ 25 million. The court ordered that all assets, properties, rights, receivables and interests of and…
The Advocate General of Punjab (AGP) during Shahbaz Sharif’s previous tenure as Chief Minister (CM), it is no surprise that Khawaja Haris is now defending former PM Nawaz Sharif and his family in the Panama Gate case. He is also the lead lawyer in references filed by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for the Avenfield properties,…
Investing their ill-gotten millions in commerce and industry to make their gains legitimate, the corrupt being contemptuous of the laws of the land do not even bother to conceal their past. It is particularly frustrating for the common citizen who makes his (or her) living the hard way to see today’s pillars of society full…
To give an account of the money looted by (1) the elected representatives of the people of Pakistan (2) the civil servants whose job it is to ensure the money is not looted along with (3) associates consisting of their immediate family, relatives, friends, etc., enjoying the illegal wealth, it is necessary to list the…
The recent controversy being generated about “U-turn” is potently childish. Accusing the govt of “U-turns” is not only unfortunate but absurd. Without fully understanding the meaning of the term, the Opposition is misusing it to castigate Imran Khan. Aided and abetted in this by a section of the media on their payroll, the Opposition disapproves…
The corrupt send their ill-gotten gains abroad for purchase of assets and property outside Pakistan, no wonder the “hundi mafia” has great influence with the establishment. Estimated at around $14-15 billion in 2004, the “hundi system” facilitators earned about $1.2 billion, the country losing $15 billion annually, or $45-50 million every working day. Multiply all…
The situation in our country in the wake of global and internal changes affecting Pakistan has evoked multiple challenges. Not to get bogged down by their sheer number it seems important to analyse each and every challenge that the country is facing. These need not only a reaction from the state to tackle them but…
The tremendous performance of the Pakistan Army, and other law enforcement agencies involved in counter-insurgency operations and eliminating the major pockets of terrorism in Pakistan notwithstanding, the fact remains that it is almost impossible to completely wipe out this security menace, particularly when terrorists can take refuge in urban centers or even in some tribal areas….
Dear Readers, Financial inclusion is the delivery of financial services at affordable costs to all sections of disadvantaged and low-income segments in society. According to the World Bank, around 2 billion people do not use formal financial services and more than 50% of adults in poorest households are unbanked. As of 2017, nearly a quarter…
In 2013, Shoaib Suddle, the Federal Tax Ombudsman investigating Malik Riaz and Arsalan Iftikhar, son of former chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, ordered the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to recover of Rs. 119 billion owed by real estate tycoon Malik Riaz in taxes. No surprise that this was set aside by then president, Asif Ali Zardari. The…
