HomeWorldPakistanBritish newspaper discovers foreign funding of PTI through offshore company Arif Naqvi

British newspaper discovers foreign funding of PTI through offshore company Arif Naqvi

combo shows PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Abraaj Founder Arif Nakvi.

LONDON: The Financial Times (FT) revealed in investigating that Wootton Cricket Ltd, a Cayman Islands-registered company of Abraaj founder Arif Naqvi, was used to fund Pakistan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) after receiving funds from companies and individuals, including at least £2m. in April 2013 from an influential Arab figure.

FT said in in its report: “Pakistan bans foreign nationals and companies from funding political parties, but Abraaj’s emails and internal documents seen by the Financial Times, including bank extract for the period from February 28 to May 30, 2013 for Wootton Cricket account in UAE, show that both companies and foreign citizens, as well as citizens of Pakistan sent millions of dollars to Wootton Cricket – up to money was transferred from an account in Pakistan for PTI”.

Election Committee of Pakistan investigates funding of PTI for more than seven years. In January, the ECP’s control committee issued a revealing report. in which states that PTI received funding from foreign individuals and companies and accused it of of understatement of funds and concealment of dozens of bank Accounts. Wootton Cricket was named in report, but Naqvi has not been identified as its owner.

FT stated in his report by journalist Simon Clark that the PTI foreign funding case is ongoing for several years and the Pakistani authorities knew that Arif Naqvi was funding PTI, but ultimate source of in money was disclosed for in first time.

The report said: “Wootton Cricket’s bank statement shows he received $1.3 million on March 14, 2013 from Abraaj Investment Management Ltd, Fund Management Division. of Naqvi private joint stock company, increasing the previous account balance of $5,431. Later that day, $1.3 million was transferred from the account. directly at PTI bank Account in Pakistan. Abraaj incurred expenses cost holding company through which she controlled K-Electric, power provider in Karachi, the largest in Pakistan city. Another $2 million went into the Wootton Cricket account. in April 2013 from a citizen of the UAE, according to bank application and copy of information about Swift translation.

“Nakvi then exchanged emails with colleague about the transfer of $1.2 million more at PTI. Six days after $2 million arrived in Wootton Cricket bank account, Naqvi transferred $1.2 million from it to Pakistan. in two installments. Rafiq Lakhani, senior Abraaja Executive Director responsible for control cash flow, wrote in e-mail to Naqvi that transfers were intended for PTI,” the FT report says.

It states that PTI received foreign funding in advance. of 2013 general elections when Imran Khan was most in need of funding.

“This was critical time for Khan raises funds in advance of elections scheduled for May 2013 and Naqvi worked closely together with other Pakistani businessmen to raise money for his campaign. The biggest entrance in Wootton Cricket bank Account in a few months before the election, $2 million was received from the UAE.”

Screenshot of Imran Khan in 2012 bowling at the Wootton T20 Cricket Cup event at Arif Naqvi house in    Oxfordshire.  Courtesy Financial Times
Screenshot of Imran Khan in 2012 bowling at the Wootton T20 Cricket Cup event at Arif Naqvi house in Oxfordshire. Courtesy Financial Times

After Lahani chief executive of Abraaja responsible for cash flow, said Nakvi in an email that the Sheikh of the UAE money arrived, Nakvi replied that he should send “1.2 million to PTI”.

According to FT, in another email from Lahani after Sheikh money logged into Wootton Cricket account Naqvi wrote: “Don’t say anyone where do the funds come from? who contributes.”

“Of course, sir,” Lakhani replied.

He wrote that he would transfer $1.2 million from Wootton Cricket to PTI’s account. in Pakistan. Then, after considering sending funds to PTI via In Nakvi Lahani’s personal account, he offered to send money in two payments to a personal account for businessman Tariq Shafi in Karachi and account for an organization called Insaf Trust in Lahore.

Although the ownership of Insaf Trust is unclear, the emails say that final the destination was PTI, according to the FT.

“Do not do that up Rafiq,” Naqvi wrote. in another email.

May 6, 2013 Wootton Cricket translated total of $1.2 million by Shafi and Insaf Trust. Lahani wrote in e-mail to Naqvi that transfers we for PTI, according to the FT. in your investigation report.

Imran Khan confirms receipt of funding

In response to a question sent in by the British publication, PTI Chairman Imran Khan, in written replies stated that he had visited Arif Nakvi’s Wooton Place. for “fundraising event attended by many PTI supporters.”

Imran Khan confirmed that Tariq Shafi made a donation to PTI.

“It for Tariq Shafi to answer where he got this from money”. Khan told FT. Shafi did not respond to inquiries for comment.

The PTI chairman told the FT that neither he nor his party knew of Abraaj provides $1.3 million through Wootton Cricket. He also said he was “unaware” of PTI receives any funds emanating from the identity of the UAE.

“Arif Naqvi made a statement which was submitted to the Electoral Commission. also not denied by anyone that money received from donations during cricket match and money what he collected was sent through his company Wootton Cricket,” wrote Imran Khan.

He told the paper he was waiting for verdict of election commission investigation. “It would be inappropriate to anticipate PTI” former the prime minister said.

Arif Naqvi’s response to ECP

The FT reported that Arif Naqvi told ECP that he was “not raising any funds from anyone.” of non-Pakistani company [public or private] or any other prohibited source”, but bank statement for Wootton Cricket contradicts his claim and show that Nakvi transferred three payments directly at PTI in 2013 addition up to total of $2.12 million.

“The largest amount is $1.3 million from Abraaj, documented by the company. show was taken over by Wootton Cricket but transferred to its holding company for K-Electric.

Akbar S Babar, who helped create PTI, told the FT that “funding is prohibited took place”.

Lobbying

FT wrote that Arif Naqvi Naqvi lobbied governments of Nawaz Sharif in 2016 and Imran Khan for support for sale of Karachi Electric (KE).

It read: “In 2016, he authorized a $20 million payment. for Pakistani politicians to get their support according to the US public prosecutors who later charged him with fraud, theft and attempted bribery. The payment was supposedly intended for Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz, who replaced Khan as prime minister in April. The brothers denied any knowledge of cause. In January 2017 Nakvi hosted dinner for Nawaz Sharif in Davos. After Khan became prime ministerNaqvi met his. Bye in office Khan criticized officials for postponement of sale of K-Electric, but the deal is still pending. Abraaj collapsed in 2018 after investors, including the Gates Foundation, launched an investigation into the company’s abuse money in fund for buy as well as build hospitals throughout Africa and Asia.”

In 2019 USA prosecutors accused Naqvi and five of his former colleagues. Two former The Abraaj chiefs have since pleaded guilty. Naqvi denies the allegations. Naqvi was detained at London Heathrow Airport. in April 2019 after returning from Pakistan and face up before 291 in jail if found guilty of US accusations.

“Khan’s phone number was included on a list of contacts that he gave to the police – fact mentioned by lawyers representing the United States government during Naqvi’s extradition trial in London,” the FT said in a statement.

Arif Naqvi sells his Wooton Place mansion in 2020 for £12.25m. He did not answer questions from the FT.

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Derrick Santistevan
Derrick Santistevan
Derrick is the Researcher at World Weekly News. He tries to find the latest things going around in our world and share it with our readers.

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