LONDON – Imran Khan has told Britain he will retrieve wealth looted fromhis country and stashed in the UK by corrupt Pakistani politicians.
The former cricketer used his first meeting with British officials sincehis general election win to say he would pursue laundered money.
New anti-corruption UK legislation designed to target oligarchs andinternational crime could be used to freeze or seize property and assets ifthere is evidence it was bought with illegal or unexplained wealth.
Attacks on the greed of Pakistan’s dynastic ruling elite have been thecornerstone of the populist anti-corruption drive which has swept ImranKhan to power.
He has denounced the political class for siphoning off money from publicsector institutions and contracts and then salting it away overseas.
The issue has dominated Pakistan’s politics since the Panama Papers leaklinked former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s family to offshore companiesand four Park Lane flats.
Nawaz Sharif was ousted from power, then jailed for 10 years after a courtfound he was unable to explain how he bought the flats now worth anestimated £8m.
In the meeting with the High Commissioner, Thomas Drew, Imran Khan said itwas “our firm resolve to bring back to the country the money laundered tothe UK.”
The Telegraph understands no specific requests for investigations orseizures were made during the meeting, but on Thursday the UK said it would“work constructively” with the new leader.
The government has brought in new legislation to combat money launderingand corruption as it tries to tackle London’s reputation as a haven fordirty money, much of it from Russia.
Expensive London property bought through shell companies in weaklyregulated jurisdictions has long been a favourite way to hide ill-gottenwealth for everyone from mobsters to kleptocrats.
A spokesman for the British High Commission said: “Tackling corruption is aUK government priority and we will continue to work constructively withPakistan on this issue.”
He said Britain has robust laws “for the recovery of illicit assets wherethere is evidence to do so”.
The meeting also discussed British aid to the country.
Imran Khan’s party back-pedalled on suggestions he would invite foreigndignitaries and international sports stars to his inauguration later thismonth. –Telegraph