Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) former secretary general Jahangir Tareen on Friday filed a review petition against the Supreme Court verdict disqualifying him as member of the parliament under Article 62 (1)(f) of the constitution

In his review petition along with an affidavit, Tareen contended that he had never any intention, object or design on his part to conceal his assets in his nomination papers submitted before the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to contest by-polls in 2015.

In his four-page affidavit, he stated that the trust which was established in 2011 and came into question several times during the hearing of the case against him was formed to provide a house to his children in the United Kingdom (UK). He said he has four children (three daughters and a son) who all are married and independent.

He said he had appointed himself and his wife as beneficiaries of the trust as a protective measure, adding that in fact he was not beneficial owner of the UK property and there was no dishonesty on his part.

He said since the trust was funded through remittances from Pakistan using official banking channels, it was in the knowledge of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), thus the question of concealment did not arise.

He said it was his intention to remit the funds in compliance with the applicable laws and regulations and to make all necessary disclosures.

He said in any case, there cannot be any concealment of tax paid funds remitted through official banking channels with the approval and knowledge of the SBP and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

He stated that he in his personal, financial and fiscal affairs has endeavoured to adhere to the highest standards of compliance and in this regard he seeks and acts upon the professional advice from competent practitioners who are considered leaders in their area of practice.

In the affidavit, Tareen submitted that he established the trust on the basis of professional advice which he still believed was correct and true. He stated that the value of funds settled into the trust has been consistently and fully disclosed since 2011 in the wealth statement of his children, who are ultimate beneficiaries of the trust.

“The inclusion of myself and my spouse as discretionary lifetime beneficiaries in the settlement was a proactive measure only so as to preclude my children at least during the lifetime of the parents from liquidating the trust and distributing and spending the proceeds, which I was advised could potentially be achieved if all discretionary beneficiaries unanimously demanded that of the trustees,” the affidavit states.

“I never wished, intended or planned for the dwelling held under the trust to be transferred to himself or his spouse during his lifetime,” Tareen stated. “My understanding was based on professional advice and my reading of settlement as a lay person, even not accepted by the Supreme Court would not and do not warrant a declaration of dishonesty on my part as the trust arrangement is legitimate and lawful recognised and valid structure and there was never any intent to mislead or conceal the trust from the court, my former constituents or from any revenue authorities or regulators and nor is there any evidence to the contrary to the record,” Tareen further stated.

To establish that he is not beneficial owner of the UK property, Tareen also submitted some documents for the first time regarding the trust along with his review petition and affidavit and tried to establish that he concealed nothing.

Published in Daily Times, January 13^th 2018.