ISLAMABAD: A fact-finding investigation into the Pandora Papers allegations is nearing completion, according to Channel News, citing sources.
The Prime Minister’s Inspection Commission (PMIC) received responses from over 200 Pakistanis identified in the Pandora Papers, including public officials and bureaucrats.
The identities of 700 Pakistani nationals were in the Pandora Papers, but the PMIC has only received the names of 240 people from the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), according to sources.
According to the sources, 40 of the 240 people being investigated by the panel are public officials and bureaucrats, and the majority of them have denied allegations of money laundering and tax fraud.
They stated that if the commission receives additional names from the consortium, they will examine them. The first part of the fact-finding investigation is expected to be completed by the end of January.
According to the sources, the commission was given inadequate facts by the consortium, which caused problems in authenticating the names of several persons. Thirty to 35 of the 240 names could not be confirmed.
The investigation is being carried out by the PMIC with the cooperation of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
Prime Minister Imran Khan has ordered a probe into Pakistanis identified in the Pandora Papers.