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HomeGo To PakistanNawaz Sharif’s UK real estate empire estimated to be £32 million

Nawaz Sharif’s UK real estate empire estimated to be £32 million

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Here’s what is happening across the border: Pakistan may be formally ‘grey-listed’ for second time by global anti- terrorist financing body, as Umar Akmal says bookies approached him before India match.

Nawaz Sharif’s real estate empire estimated to be £32 million

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family — two sons, daughter and son-in-law — hold properties in the UK worth £32 million, reported Daily Mail. Sharif has been living in Avenfield House, London, since 1993, which, the report says, is now worth at least £7 million.

Apart from the Avenfield flats, the family is accused of having bought at least 21 UK properties at prominent Central London locations — in Mayfair, Chelsea and Belgravia. The total value of the properties is estimated to be at least £32 million, reported The Nation.

For the past four months, all five of them have been on trial in for money-laundering. A network of companies, trusts and bank accounts used for registration has made it difficult to trace Sharifs’ British real estate portfolio.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan Sunday slammed the ex-prime minister on social media, saying, “More on how the Pakistani nation’s wealth was looted through money laundering by corrupt rulers and their families.”

FATF may formally grey-list Pakistan for second time

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) may formally place Pakistan on its ‘grey list’ for the second time ever, during its week-long meet, currently under way in Paris, reported The Nation.

The global money-laundering watchdog had placed Pakistan on its ‘grey-list’ during plenary meet in February. Pakistan, however, is required to submit an action plan for review during the meeting, between June 24 and June 29.

Pakistan was first grey-listed for three years in 2012.

Pakistan has lately issued the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Regulations, 2018, keeping the anti- terrorist financing and money laundering recommendations in mind. Pakistan’s National Security Committee had also reaffirmed its commitment to FATF.

Akmal claims was offered to miss matches against India

Pakistani batsman Umar Akmal has claimed that he was offered $2,00,000 to miss matches against India in previous World Cups and two deliveries during a match, reported Pakistan Today.

“In the 2015 World Cup and all matches against India, bookies have offered me money to miss those games. I refused the offers and told them that I don’t want this kind of money so do not talk to me on this topic,” he said in a TV interview that aired Sunday.

The International Cricket Council has launched an investigation into the matter and has expressed desire to speak to Umar Akmal, reported Geo Tv.

Akmal’s past hasn’t been free of controversies with team coaches, and recently his elimination from the national team over fitness issues.

His latest statements could land him in trouble as two other Pakistani cricketers, Muhammad Irfan and spinner Muhammad Nawaz, had faced bans for not informing the board regarding the approaches by bookies.

Journalists threatened — again

In the run-up to the July 25 election, Marvi Sirmed, a well-known writer and activist, and Hazrat Ali, a Swat-based journalist, have been subjected to both direct and indirect threats in the last few days.

Sirmed’s home in Islamabad was ransacked by unknown robbers when she returned home from Eid holidays with her family on 21 June. According to an editorial in Pakistan Mail Online, the robbers went through all the documents and files in the study and took three items, which included two laptops and a Samsung note 4.

In Swat district, Hazrat Ali received threats from unidentified militants after doing a programme on blasphemy laws, reported The Nation. The militants allegedly sent him letters warning him of dire consequences for his family. Ali’s family shifted to an unknown location, after he appealed to legal authorities to provide security to his family.

Threats and attacks on journalists have significantly increased in Pakistan. Earlier this month, columnist Gul Bukhari was abducted while she was on her way to a TV show. A few hours later, on the same day, it was reported that broadcast journalist Asad Kharal was attacked by masked men near Lahore airport.

Country to launch indigenously developed satellite in July

Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal in a tweet Sunday announced that the country’s indigenous satellite, Pakistan Technology Evaluation Satellite (PakTES-1A), will be launched July 2018.

The remote sensing satellite (RSS) weighs 285kg and will be launched at 610km sun-synchronous orbit by Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO).

Pakistan and China inked an agreement in 2016 to launch special remote sensing satellites. The satellites would be used to oversee development of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Ary news reported.

SUPARCO along with three different Chinese universities are currently designing three other satellites.

Water scarcity may turn fertile land into deserts, warns economist

The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) Sunday warned that the severe water scarcity in the country is converting fertile lands into vast deserts, reported The Nation.

President of PEW, Dr Murtaza Mughal, blamed climate change, mismanagement of water and “Indian conspiracies” for the country’s increasing water woes.

“Everything is under threat as the country is becoming a desert with a rapid pace which will destroy all the developmental initiatives,” he said, without elaborating on what these “Indian conspiracies” were.

Mughal suggested that the authorities should build small dams on a war footing for water conservation. The water crisis had negatively impacted Pakistan’s economy and increased mortality rate of livestock, wildlife, and human beings, Mughal said.

Banker-turned-wrestler set to become second from Pakistan to enter WWE

After Mustafa Ali, Bilal Ansari, also known as Amir Jordan, a banker-turned-wrestler, is set to become the second Pakistani to make it to WWE, reported The Express Tribune.

Amir who hails from the North Nazimabad in Karachi, had been competing in the ongoing WWE UK Championship tournament, according to the report.

Amir has trained under t respected wrestlers, Lance Storm and Marty Jones.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, Amir said, “I became a fan of pro-wrestling because of my grandmother. She didn’t understand what they talked about because of the language barrier but appreciated the performances. I think that is how I realised the beauty of wrestling.

Talking about his future goals, Amir said, “Everyone’s goal is to be in the main event of Wrestle Mania or win the WWE Championship but I want to take it one step at a time.”

CJP directs creation of special cells to probe cases of missing persons

Pakistan’s Chief Justice, Mian Saqib Nisar, ordered law enforcement agencies to create special cells to look into cases of missing persons Sunday, reported Dawn.

The order comes after relatives of those missing staged a protest outside the Supreme Court. Later when filing their applications at the Karachi registry office, a scuffle broke out. The CJP expressed annoyance at the disturbed proceedings.

While the CJP sympathised with the relatives, he ascertained that not all those missing may have been picked up by law enforcement agencies.


Contributors: Sharanya Munsi, Priyamvada Grover, Hansa Kapoor, Manisha Mondal, Alind Chauhan, Prateek Gupta, Rupanwita Bhattacharjee and Anagha Deshpande.

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