International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) has revealed another set of leaks regarding offshore companies. The documents are are being dubbed as Bahamas Leaks.
The ICIJ worked in conjunction with German Newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung and news organisations from Europe, Asia, South America and Africa to get the set of fresh information out into the public’s reach.
And yes, they bring to light more offshore companies owned by Pakistanis in the Bahamas.
What are Bahamas Leaks?
The cache of leaked documents includes names of owners of around 175,000 offshore companies which were registered between 1990 and 2016. So far the list mentions at least 150 Pakistanis with offshore companies in the Bahamas.
The Bahamas is a constellation of 700 islands near the USA and some 12,900km away from Pakistan. These islands are often dubbed “The Switzerland of the West”.
Just like Panama, the Bahamas are a tax-haven and people can use fake offshore companies to hide their money and evade taxes. Bahamas does not share information regarding its financial matters with foreign governments, making it an ideal place to hide assets.
The leaks also include details regarding several other politicians around the globe.
The documents also list details of 539 intermediary agents which acted as bridges between Bahamian authorities and its clients. Mossack Fonseca, the law firm from Panama, was also named amongst the agents.
The investigative report is being dubbed the second biggest financial scandal in history since the Panama leaks scandal took the world by storm in April this year.
Brief History of Panama Leaks
Panama leaks included data regarding hundreds of thousands of offshore shell companies with trillions of dollars in hidden assets and 11.5 million documents. The Mossack Fonseca leaks exposed about 400 Pakistanis including government officials, businessmen and senior government officials. The leaked list included 200 Pakistanis in the first set of data and about 400 Pakistanis in the second set of data.
The Panama Leaks resulted in resignations and prosecutions all around the globe including Prime Ministers and government ministers. However, we did not see something like this in Pakistan even though the Prime Minister’s family and leaders from different political parties were named in the leaks.
The government and its institutions have been dragging their feet regarding the matter of setting up a commission to investigate its assets. About six months have passed and Pakistan is yet to see a strong public reaction against corrupt officials and businessmen after the lack of interest shown by the government.
Pakistanis Names That Feature in the Bahamas Leaks
Some of the most prominent Pakistani names included in Bahamas leaks are:
- Former Jamaat-e-Islami senator Professor Khurshid Ahmed (but he has said that his role with the bank registered in Bahamas was advisory and that he didn’t own any stocks there).
- Son of Mohammad Naseer Khan, a former minister in Pervez Musharraf’s government.
- Mohsin Abu Bakar Sheikhani, a construction tycoon from Karachi.
- Samina Durrani, the mother of CM Punjab’s wife Tehmina Durrani.
- Obaid Altaf Khanani, son of Altaf Khanani. a Pakistan-based money changer currently in US custody over financing terrorism.
- And more!
Professor khurshid just provides the advisory to aqeeda bank he has no offshore company or assets in that bank.He provided free advisory to that bank because he’s famous for islamic economic system.He has given advisory to various banks that’s why he has been awarded phd degrees
if Prof. Khurshed has no any account there then how His name is in the List of accounts holders, ?? in the leak they just declare the name of account Holder ?? Not the Names of the employees Or Consultants
You said ” The Panama Leaks resulted in resignations and prosecution all over the globe, including Prime ministers and government ministers. ”
Will you please give a few names who resigned or prosecuted. For you poor information Iceland prime minister didn’t resign. He is still prime minister and his finance minister is acting in his place.