WASHINGTON: At a time when the Panama papers have created a political buzz
in Pakistan pushing the opposition
parties to demand for accountability of the Sharif family, Mr Hussain Nawaz,
the elder son of prime minister Nawaz Sharif spent a couple of days here in
Washington and had meetings with various individuals, the News learnt here
yesterday.
Sources aware of the
visit revealed that Mr Hussain Nawaz, now in London, was on a surprised short
visit to the U.S. over a week ago and stayed at a local hotel in the Georgetown
area. The sources did not confirm if Hussain Nawaz had any meetings with
American officials but maintained that the trip was private.
When asked Pakistan's
ambassador to the U.S. Jalil Abbas Jilani commented that he was not even aware
of any such visit.
Given the situation in
Pakistan, after the Panama paper revelations, Mr Hussain Nawaz preferred to
keep the trip secret, sources said, adding that Hussain Nawaz met with the
Sharif family's oldest friend Sheikh Saeed. Mr Saeed lives in Maryland and has
been so close to Nawaz Sharif that in each official visit to the U.S. he
accompanies prime minister in private and even official meetings. The sources
further claimed that Mr Saeed and Hussain Nawaz also met with property related
attorneys.
Mr Hussain Nawaz was
reached out for his comments who maintained that he was on a personal trip. He
kept it unannounced as he had to visit an old family friend. He also denied
having any property in the U.S. "We neither had nor have any property in
America," he told The News. Panama papers have already mentioned all and
any property the family holds, he said. Hussain Nawaz also thanked the
Pakistani American community for prayers and wishes of the well being of Nawaz
Sharif as he undergoes medical treatment later today.
Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif has been under severe criticism from the opposition parties since the
first batch of Panama papers came out. The prime minister's family was named in
the papers as "owners or had the right to authorize transitions for
several companies." More specifically, Mr Hussain Nawaz was described as
the sole director of Hangon Property Holdings Limited incorporated in the
British Virgin Islands in February 2007, which acquired Liberia-based firm
Cascon Holdings Establishment Limited for about $11.2 million in August
2007."
Mr Hussain Nawaz has
already in the past confirmed the names of the three companies operated by the
Sharif family that were mentioned in the papers. On local media outlet he
admitted two apartments were purchased in London after selling a steel factory
operating in Saudi Arabia, adding that no tax is imposed on the particular
apartments as is imposed on land owned by overseas Pakistanis.
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