Pakistan: First lady Bushra Bibi's friend Farah Khan turned 4X richer in Imran Khan's regime

Islamabad: A close friend of first lady Bushra Bibi, absconder Farhat Shahzadi's wealth grew exponentially within the first three years of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan assuming office, an investigation by a daily has revealed.

The total declared assets of Farhat Shahzadi grew four times from Rs 231 million in 2017 to Rs 971 million in 2021. Her filing in 2018 was nil, a report in The News International said.

Also known as Farah Gujjar or Farah Khan, Farhat Shahzadi is the closest friend of the "illusive" Bushra Bibi. The brief ceremony of the marriage of Prime Minister Imran Khan with Bushra Bibi also took place at Farah's residence.

The opposition leaders, including Aleem Khan, former close aide of Imran Khan, have levelled serious allegations of corruption on Farah Khan who, according to them, minted millions of rupees in every transfer and posting in Punjab province during the PTI–led government.

The News investigations revealed Farah Khan's fortune increased ever since the Prime Minister appointed Usman Buzdar as Chief Minister of Punjab province. Her declared assets before Imran Khan came into power were reported to be worth PKR 231,635,297 in 2017. However, within the first three years of Imran Khan's government Farah bought several properties in different cities and made investments worth hundreds of millions of rupees in different business sectors, The New said.

Farah Khan, as per the documents, also availed whitening of black money scheme (Tax Amnesty Scheme) in 2019 during Imran Khan's government and declared assets worth Rs 328 million under the Tax Amnesty Scheme 2019, the report added.

The documents further show that Farah Khan bought some luxurious properties in Lahore and Islamabad, including a villa in a posh sector of Islamabad. As per the documents, Farah Khan declared a 933 square yards house in Islamabad's Sector F-7/2, which she bought for Rs 195 million.

Farah's filing for the tax year 2018 shows nothing. However, within a year after Imran Khan appointed Usman Buzdar as Chief Minister of Punjab, Farah Khan's assets grew two times in the tax year 2019 (July 2018- June 2019). The total assets of Farah Khan reached Rs 699,137,839 inside Pakistan; Rs15,749, 479 outside Pakistan in the form of a flat in the UAE. Hence the total assets inside and outside Pakistan were recorded at Rs 714,887,318. The net assets were reported as Rs 697,502,318.

Similarly, for the tax year 2020 (July 2019-June 2020), the total assets of Farah Khan were recorded at Rs 740,300,166, including Rs 724,550,687 in Pakistan and a flat in the UAE worth Rs 15,749,479. The net assets for the tax year were reported as over Rs 707 million.

In tax year 2021 (July 2020-June 2021) , her assets were recorded at over Rs 971 million. The News published entire list of her assets year-wise and also tried to contact Farhat Shahzadi but her contact numbers were out of reach.

A source close to the family claimed that the corruption charges being reported were untrue and all the wealth was earned by honest means, the report added.

Shahzadi is said to have left for Dubai amid the political crisis in Pakistan. (UNI)