Ishaq Dar issues clarification over allegations, threatens PTI's Fawad Chaudhry with lawsuit

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday issued “rebuttal to claims” made by Pakistan Tehreek-i- Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry in a presser earlier in the day.

PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry, in a press conference today, claimed that Ishaq Dar’s son Ali Dar owns HGS tower and luxury cars fleet in Dubai and lives in an at least 15 million dirham villa.

The HDS Tower allegation

The statement issued by minister’s spokesperson through the ministry’s media wing, says that Mr. Chaudhry has made false claims, which are far from reality, that a whole tower in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is owned by the finance finister’s sons.

The whole tower (G+39), named “HDS Tower”, was sold out, except for a few units that have been retained for office purpose. There are approximately 300 buyers/owners, including individuals, corporations, companies, and institutions etc., whose ownership details and particulars are available with the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (“RERA”) of the Government of Dubai.

Therefore, the allegation of the tower being owned by the Finance Minister’s sons is concocted and a big lie.

About the Car Rental Business

The statement says that the claim made by Mr. Chaudhry regarding the car rental business, owned by the finance minister’s sons, is also completely false.

It is usual for car rental businesses in the UAE, that owners of luxury cars place their cars with car rental companies for renting out, due to considerable demand for such vehicles. Any person may rent out luxury cars through car rental companies, which charge part of the rental amount as their fee. In addition, the Roads and Transport Authority (“RTA”) of the Government of Dubai, allows for temporary transfer of vehicles between Rent-a-Car companies, which allows companies like “HDS Rent A Car”, owned by the Finance Minister’s sons, to offer to their clients cars owned not just by them, but also by hundreds of other car rental companies in Dubai.

The car rental business of “HDS Rent A Car” is well-recorded, properly audited and is carried out in accordance with the laws of UAE. Given the abovementioned facts, it may be noted that although the “HDS Rent A Car” business is owned by the Finance Minister’s sons, the cars which are made available by “HDS Rent A Car” for renting by customers, are not owned by “HDS Rent A Car” or by the Finance Minister’s sons. Therefore, the assertions and inferences made by Mr. Chaudhry regarding the car rental business of the Finance Minister’s sons are completely untrue.

“The Finance Minister’s sons have filed a damages suit for Rs. 5 billion against Mr. Imran Khan for making similar statements. Mr. Fawad Chaudhry should refrain from making such falsified statements regarding the Finance Minister’s sons in the future. Otherwise, a similar damages suit will also be filed against him,” reads the statement.