Govt attaches Benami properties of Zardari, Omni group, and PML-N

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Government has attached all the ‘Benami’ properties worth Rs 300-500 billion belonged to Asif Ali Zardari and Omni Group in Sindh, while freeze most of the properties belonged to Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N).

Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari is already facing corruption charges in the accountability court. The properties which had been attached under Benami Act in Sindh belonged to Zardari and Omni group. These properties were kept on the name of their employees.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Accountability Shahzad Akbar on Wednesday said that government will seize all the properties of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Salman Shahbaz if he does not return to the country, while the properties attached in Sindh would have to be proved that they are the real owners of them.

National Accountability Bureau (NAB) seized the properties of former Punjab CM and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shahbaz Sharif his wives Nusrat Shahbaz, Tehmina Durrani and son Hamza Shahbaz in assets case and money launder case.

The seized properties of Shahbaz’s wife Tehmina Durrani include agricultural land in Haripur, two houses in Defense Housing Authority (DHA), while Nusrat Shahbaz’s properties including two plots in Model Town and a house in Donga Gali have also been seized.

The anti-graft agency has also seized Hamza Shahbaz’s 9 plots in Johar Town and four plots in Judicial Colony.

The PML-N president and his family’s shares in 14 mills and transfer of two land cruisers on Shahbaz Sharif’s name have also been stopped.

The anti-graft agency has written letters to Lahore Development Authority (LDA), Excise, GDA and DC Harripur to stop transfer or sale of assets.

Talking in Dunya News’ program ‘Dunya Kamran Khan Kay Sath’, Shahzad Akbar expressed that the Benami properties has to be proved legal in 60 days otherwise government will start seizing all the Benami properties of Salman Shahbaz.

He went on to say that PML-N leaders Hassan and Hussain transferred all their businesses to others. Under telegraphic transfers (TTs) transactions, assets of Shehbaz Sharif were frozen as well, he added.

SAPM Accountability asserted that the Benami properties get confiscated under the Benami law and inquiry has been done following the law. He added that money of seized properties will be added into the national exchequer.

 

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