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News > World

Pakistani Prime Minister's Family Hits Back After Panama Papers

  • Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been in power since 2013.

    Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been in power since 2013. | Photo: AFP

Published 4 April 2016
Opinion

Pakistani Information Minister Pervez Rashid has also denied that the prime minister's children had committed any crime.

The family of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Monday defended their ownership of offshore companies after they were named in the Panama Papers, one of the biggest media leaks in history.

The leak, comprising 11.5 million documents from Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca, shows how some of the world’s most powerful people have secreted their money offshore.

Among those named are three of Sharif’s four children -- Maryam, who has been tipped to be his political successor; Hasan and Hussain, with the records showing they owned London real estate through offshore companies administered by the firm.

"Nawaz Sharif does not own any company but having companies in the name of his children also raises questions," Umar Cheema of the Center for Investigative Reporting in Pakistan, told AFP.

But Sharif’s son Hussain told the country’s largest private broadcaster his family had done "nothing wrong".

Hussain said he left Pakistan in 1992 and therefore is not resident, adding Pakistani tax law "says that if you are not staying in Pakistan for more than 138 days, then you are not required to declare your assets”.

Pakistan’s information minister Pervez Rashid also denied Sharif’s children had committed any crime.

Meanwhile, opposition leader Imran Khan called for action against Sharif.

"Our stance vindicated again as Sharif’s wealth stashed abroad exposed," he tweeted, adding the country’s accountability watchdog, tax authorities and election commission must take action.

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