PM’s sister among 44 Pakistanis owning benami properties

Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s sister is among 44 prominent political and government figures owning benami properties in United Arab Emirates, revealed a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) list submitted to the Pakistan Supreme Court.
The list was part of the annexure submitted to a three-judge SC bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, seized with a case relating to illegal transfer of money from Pakistan to foreign countries, the Dawn reported.
The FIA has furnished before the apex court a list of 44 individuals who owned properties registered in the name of other persons, the report said.
The list contains the name of Aleema Khanum, a sister of Khan, who has been identified as ‘benamidar’ of a property.
The list also include the name of government spokesperson on economy and energy issues Farrukh Saleem’s mother, according to The Express Tribune.
The investigation further revealed that ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Mumtaz Ahmed Muslim owns 16 properties and former PPP minister Amin Faheem’s widow Rizwana Ameen own four properties in the UAE’s lucrative real estate market, the report said.
The list also contains the name of Ayesha Enver Baig, wife of former senator Enver Baig and owner of Anwar Steel. She has one property in the UAE, but it has been disclosed in the tax returns filed with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
The name of prominent politician Irfanullah Khan Marwat is also on the list. Rizwana Amin, wife of late Makhdoom Amin Fahim of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), owned four properties.
Tahira Manzoor, daughter of Tariq Aziz – personal secretary to former president Pervez Musharraf, owned six properties in the UAE and is also under verification by the FBR.
Akbar Khan has six properties in the UAE. He is a brother of Humayun Akhtar and Haroon Akhtar — both former ministers.
He did not provide any affidavit despite repeated notices. Among other prominent individuals, singer Adnan Sami Khan’s mother Noreen Sami Khan owns three properties.
SC is trying to hold those people accountable who own properties outside Pakistan but never showed how they got those properties. (PTI)