Details of another global scandal, the Pandora Papers, have been released in the style of the Panama Papers, which has caused a stir in the world. More than 700 Pakistanis have also been exposed in it. The big Pandora’s Box has opened in the wake of international research called Pandora Papers and revealed secrets that could lead to many celebrities and bigwigs from all over the world getting into trouble. Just as the revelations were made one by one in the Panama Papers, the same thing will happen in the Pandora Papers, once again there will be political turmoil, action will be demanded against government figures and the whole process will be repeated as it was during the Panama Papers, but it remains to be seen what will be the benefit to the people as a result?
It is clear that the revelation of the Panama Papers did not change the lives of the people, nor are the revelations of the Pandora Papers going to change the lives of the people. But such revelations do unveil the faces of many so-called nobles. The Panama Papers included the names of more than 400 Pakistanis, while the number of Pakistanis appearing in the Pandora Papers is said to be more than 700 according to details released at the time, including those belonging to the current ruling party as well as several leaders of the PML(N), the PML(Q) and many leaders of the PPP, including some federal and provincial ministers. The emergence of the Pandora Papers has sparked a new debate on the financial affairs of eminent figures from around the world, including Pakistan, which could lead to many big people having similar problems as the Sharif family did encounter under the influence of the Panama Papers.
The government had tried to ensure justice on the Panama papers without any discrimination, but nothing could have happened except a change of government. This time too, the same thing seems to be happening. In the light of the previous melodrama, the courts should understand what kind of cases they had to hear and decide. No matter how many crimes Nawaz Sharif’s government committed and how much it benefited the Sharif family, he could not be convicted on the Panama Papers. He was convicted in another case. Other Panama Papers criminals are roaming free, but that doesn’t mean that those involved in the Pandora Papers should be pardoned if there is a solid case; it should be brought to light, but it seems that this Pandora will be used only for creating chaos and the Pakistani nation will be fooled once again.
The most important revelation about the names of the people named by the Panama Papers and Pandora Papers is that they have set up offshore companies. An offshore company is an organization whose owners form a company in a country other than their own; the purpose of setting up such companies is usually to do business free from the laws and regulations of their country and fear of the government. The owner of the company may have problems with business matters because of political animosity in their country or some other reason. Another purpose of setting up offshore companies is to take advantage of another country’s tax breaks or soft laws or to avoid their country’s strict tax laws. Setting up offshore companies is not a crime under the law, but the people who set them up have to regularly state in their tax returns and asset details where such a company is located in their name.
Many people from countries like Pakistan form offshore companies for many reasons, but they all have the same goal and not all keep the details of their companies’ secret, so to assume that someone’s offshore company has come out means that the owner of the company or the family is guilty of something, is not the case at all. However, as for those who have stolen money from the country and set up offshore companies and kept them hidden, so that their theft and looting did not come to light, strict action should be taken against such persons.
The Prime Minister also welcomed the Pandora Papers and announced an investigation, but for this, the path of investigation should be taken without any discrimination. No person or institution should use their personal or institutional status, the opposition has objected that only they have been vindicated in the Panama Papers; and this time the government in the Pandora Papers have to improve its image by making sure to provide justice through indiscriminate investigation.
The government had tried to ensure justice on the Panama papers without any discrimination, but nothing could have happened except a change of government. This time too, the same thing seems to be happening. In the light of the previous melodrama, the courts should understand what kind of cases they had to hear and decide. No matter how many crimes Nawaz Sharif’s government committed and how much it benefited the Sharif family, he could not be convicted on the Panama Papers. He was convicted in another case. Other Panama Papers criminals are roaming free, but that doesn’t mean that those involved in the Pandora Papers should be pardoned if there is a solid case; it should be brought to light, but it seems that this Pandora will be used only for creating chaos and the Pakistani nation will be fooled once again.
