Following a comprehensive six-month investigation spearheaded by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and Norwegian outlet E24, journalists from 74 partner organizations across 58 countries have unearthed a multitude of convicted criminals, fugitives, politically exposed persons, and their associates, alongside sanctioned individuals who have recently possessed real estate in Dubai.
Data, leaked in 2022, indicates that Indians lead in the number of residential properties owned by foreigners, with 35,000 properties held by 29,700 owners, totaling an estimated value of $17 billion that year. Pakistani nationals rank second among foreign property owners, with 17,000 individuals possessing 23,000 residential properties.
The report suggests that the collective worth of Pakistani-owned apartments and villas in Dubai exceeded $10 billion at the onset of 2022. However, with property prices surging by over 25% in the past two years, the true value of Pakistani residential properties in Dubai may now surpass $12.5 billion.
Among the prominent figures identified are the offspring of President Asif Ali Zardari—Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, and Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s wife, Ms. Ashraf, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon, MNA Ikhtiar Baig, Nawaz Sharif’s son Hussain Nawaz, retired General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s son Saad Siddique Bajwa, Senator Faisal Vawda, Sardar Sanaullah Zehri, Akhtar Mengal, and PML-N MNA Ehsanul Haq Bajwa.
Notably, former military dictator Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf and his wife are listed as owners of three properties in Dubai Marina, Burj Khalifa, and Al Thanyah Fifth. Musharraf’s former military secretary, Lt-Gen Shafaat Ullah Shah, and his son are also mentioned in the leaked data.
Morevoer, Maj Gen (r) Ehtasham Zameer, his son, and other children, former NLC scandal-embroiled Lt-Gen Afzal Muzaffar’s son, former DG Counter Intelligence Major Gen Ehtasham Zamir and his children, and IGP Azad Jammu and Kashmir Dr. Sohail Habib Tajik are among those identified as property owners in Dubai.
Other notable individuals on the list include former president of the NBP Arif Usmani, Lt-Gen (r) Muhammad Akram, Lt-Gen Alam Jan Mehsud and his spouse, Maj Gen (r) Ghazanfar Ali Khan, Major Gen (r) Raja Muhammad Arif Nazir, Air Vice Marshal (r) Saleem Tariq, Air Vice Marshal (r) Khalid Masood Rajput, Major Gen (r) Muhammad Farooq, Major Gen (r) Anis Bajwa’s spouse, Maj Gen (r) Najam-ul-Hassan Shah, former chairman of OGDCL Zahid Muzaffar, and chairman PCST Syed Anwar-ul Hassan Gillani.
