ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Friday declined to comment over a controversy between the Pakistan High Commission in London, and a Washington-based asset recovery firm, Broadsheet LLC, to whom the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) owes money to.
Reports appeared on Thursday that a court in the United Kingdom has ordered a debit of $28.7 million from the accounts of Pakistan High Commission in London over non-payment of penalty by the NAB to the foreign firm, the deadline for the payment of the penalty expired on December 31, 2020.
In response to a question during his weekly media briefing on Friday, the Foreign Office spokesperson, Zahid Hafeez Chaudhry, declined to comment over the controversy, saying the office of the Attorney General of Pakistan was the appropriate forum for comment on the matter.
Petitioner Broadsheet LLC, an Isle of Man entity [Broadsheet IOM] and the government of Pakistan had formally entered into the “Asset Recovery Agreement” in June 2000 during General Musharraf’s government. The agreement was signed by Broadsheet (IOM) representative, Dr William F Pepper, on behalf of Broadsheet (IOM), and by Lt General Syed Amjad, on behalf of the government as then-chairman of the NAB.
According to a petition filed by Broadsheet LLC in the US district court for the district of Colorado on September 15, 2011, two companies were formed to assist the NAB pursue the targeted assets worldwide. Broadsheet (IOM), formed by Colorado businessman James and Dr Pepper, was empowered by the agreement to recover assets diverted to the private accounts of Sharif family. A separate company, “International Asset Recovery Limited” (IAR) was formed for the purpose of recovering assets from the Bhutto family.
The Broadsheet LLC had later filed a claim with the London High Court to enforce the payment of the outstanding $22m owed to the firm, and also an interest of $4,758 per day to be applied. However, the Foreign Office sources said that the matter is being pursued by the Attorney General of Pakistan’s office.
They also contradicted the media reports as baseless which had claimed that the accounts of the Pakistan’s High Commission have been frozen on the court’s order or any amount deducted, as the High Commission enjoys diplomatic immunity.
In response to a question in his weekly media briefing with regard to a New Year message to India, the Foreign Office spokesperson said that Pakistan’s message is clear and consistent. “We want peace and desire cordial relations with all our neighbors. Pakistan believes that India’s irresponsible actions and belligerent statements are imperiling regional peace and security,” he said. He said that it is India that has vitiated the atmosphere with its illegal and unilateral actions of 5th August 2019 in the IIOJK, and with continuous belligerent rhetoric. “Pakistan has repeatedly been saying that the onus is on India to create an enabling environment by rescinding its illegal and unilateral actions, ending its state-terrorism against the Kashmiri people, and agreeing to resolve the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the people of Kashmir,” he asserted.
To another query with regard to any deterioration in Pakistan-Saudi relations, he said: “we firmly reject any insinuations regarding deterioration in Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations as baseless and misleading.” He said that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy strong fraternal ties and the two countries have always cooperated with each other on all matters of bilateral, regional and international importance. “Pakistan greatly values its relations with Saudi Arabia,” he added.
About the trans-Afghan railway line project being pursued by Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan, he said that the project is not a part of the CPEC. He added that Pakistan is committed to regional connectivity and integration as it believes that the future of the region lies in greater connectivity and enhanced regional trade. “We consider it important to enhance regional connectivity, trade and people-to-people contacts for increased prosperity and progress of the region,” he added.
Replying to a question regarding Pakistan’s role in Afghan peace process, he said that Pakistan always believes that a politically-negotiated settlement is the only way forward for durable peace in Afghanistan.
He said Afghan peace process has reached to a critical stage, where all stakeholders should take advantage of this opportunity in taking the dialogue initiative to a conclusion. “We hope that intra-Afghan negotiations that are scheduled to start on Tuesday next will be productive and move the process forward for durable peace and stability in Afghanistan as well as in the region,” he added.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2021
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