Ahmer Bilal Soofi
Ahmer Bilal Soofi | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Law, Justice, Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights | |
| In office 2 April 2013 – 7 June 2013 | |
| President | Asif Ali Zardari |
| Prime Minister | Mir Hazar Khan Khoso (caretaker) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 November 1962 |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
Ahmer Bilal Soofi is a Pakistani lawyer and a former Minister of Law, Justice, Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights in the 2013 Khoso caretaker ministry.[1] Soofi is a member of the Board of Governors of the Islamabad Policy and Research institute, a think tank based in Islamabad.[2]
Soofi regularly contributes articles to Pakistani newspapers, offering commentary and analysis on legal, social, and political issues.[3]
Early life and education
[edit]Ahmer Bilal Soofi was born to M. A. Soofi, a periodontist, and Iqbal Soofi, a medical doctor.[4] His father, M. A. Soofi, was a dentist who had worked for the Muslim League and Muslim National Guard.[5][6]
Political career
[edit]Broadsheet scandal
[edit]Background
[edit]On 20 July 2000, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) of Pakistan hired the Isle of Man-registered Broadsheet LLC to investigate and track the illegally accumulated wealth of Pakistani politicians, including the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif.[7][8] In 2003, the NAB terminated the agreement with Broadsheet after making settlements with Nawaz Sharif and others.[9] However, Broadsheet claimed that it had not been informed of the settlements, and that it was entitled to service fees on assets it had recovered. The company filed an arbitration case before the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) over non-payment of service fees, claiming damages of $580 million.[10] Meanwhile, the Broadsheet company went bankrupt and was acquired by Kaveh Moussavi. The original owner of Broadsheet, Jerry James, registered another company in Colorado, which was also named "Broadsheet".[11]
In May 2008, the NAB reached an agreement with the Colorado registered Broadsheet and paid it an amount of $5 million.[12] However, the original Isle of Man-registered Broadsheet, now owned by Moussavi, continued to pursue the arbitration against the Pakistani government, on the basis that the government had mistakenly paid the new company, which had no legal standing in the ongoing dispute.[11] The case hearings commenced in January 2016, with the Pakistan government losing the case in August that year. The LCIA upheld Broadsheet's arguments that Jerry James had no authority to act on behalf of the Isle of Man registered Broadsheet LLC. It further held that "Pakistan was liable to pay damages as NAB had wrongfully repudiated an asset recovery agreement with Broadsheet and committed a tort of civil conspiracy by entering into a sham settlement with a former Broadsheet executive".[12]
As counsel to the Pakistan government
[edit]At the time of the settlement agreement, Soofi had acted as counsel for the NAB.[13]
In the 2016 arbitral decision, Sir Anthony Evans found that Soofi knew that the Isle of Man company "was or had been in liquidation and that no liquidator was involved in the negotiation" but had "fail[ed] to contact the liquidator or make further enquiries before concluding his negotiation" because of his reliance on statements given by James.[14]
In 2021, a commission led by formed Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Azmat Saeed, was formed to investigate potential corruption and criminality during the Broadsheet case. Saeed found that Soofi's actions had been criminally negligent, leading to losses incurred by the Pakistani government. Later that year, the Federal Cabinet of Pakistan allowed criminal proceedings to be brought against Soofi.[13][15][16]
In 2022, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Anti-Corruption Circle of Islamabad summoned Soofi for investigation.[17]
In 2023, the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee stated that Soofi had refused to cooperate with the ongoing investigation against him, instead submitting a complaint to the Chief Justice of Pakistan.[18]
Views
[edit]Soofi has condemned Israel's actions in its war against Gaza, arguing that Israel had committed genocide, that its occupation of Palestinian territory was illegal, and that Palestinians had a right to armed resistance under international law.[19]
Personal life
[edit]He is married with three sons.[20] His son Bakhtawar Bilal Soofi is an Advocate of the Punjab bar and a partner at the elder Soofi's law firm.[4][21] Bakhtawar's younger brother, Sadiq Karim Soofi, is a graduate of Harvard University.[22][23]
References
[edit]- ^ Ghumman, Khawar (4 April 2013). "Portfolios allotted: Surprise addition likely in caretaker cabinet".
- ^ "BOG". IPRI. Islamabad Policy Research Institute. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ "News stories for Ahmer Bilal Soofi - DAWN.COM". www.dawn.com. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ a b https://pbbarcouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Lahore-H.C.pdf
- ^ https://www.muslimuniversity.edu.af/uploads/library/History%20of%20Dentistry%20CHAPTER-1%20HISTORY%20OF%20DENTISTRY%20(%20PDFDrive%20)_579.pdf
- ^ "Remembering Quaid-e-Azam". The Nation. 13 August 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
- ^ Khan, Balach (18 January 2021). "Broadsheet Saga: Two decades of incompetent decisions". The Correspondent PK.
- ^ Mizner, Andrew (24 July 2019). "Pakistan loses High Court battle to overturn USD 21 million award". CDR Magazine.
- ^ Mizner, Andrew (24 July 2019). "Pakistan loses High Court battle to overturn USD 21 million award". CDR Magazine.
- ^ Khan, Balach (18 January 2021). "Broadsheet Saga: Two decades of incompetent decisions". The Correspondent PK.
- ^ a b Khan, Balach (18 January 2021). "Broadsheet Saga: Two decades of incompetent decisions". The Correspondent PK.
- ^ a b Malik, Hasnaat (10 June 2020). "NAB seeks $17m for payment of penalty". Express Tribune.
- ^ a b Rizwan, Shehzad (1 April 2021). "Broadsheet inquiry names five main accused". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
- ^ https://factfocus.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2016-Judgement-Final-Award-Liability-Issues.pdf
- ^ https://cabinet.gov.pk/SiteImage/Downloads/Broadsheet_%20LLC_Report.pdf
- ^ CORRSPONDENT, OUR (20 November 2021). "FIA to 'investigate NAB' in Broadsheet scandal". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
- ^ "Ex-NAB chief summoned for Broadsheet probe". The Express Tribune. 15 October 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
- ^ "Red warrants to be issued to accused in broadsheet case, says PAC chairman". The Nation. 23 February 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
- ^ "Stop the genocide | Encore | thenews.com.pk". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
- ^ https://issi.org.pk/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/CV-AhmerBilalSoofi_PT_Dec_14_2016.pdf
- ^ "Bakhtawar Bilal Soofi". ABS & Co. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
- ^ "Head Boy and Student Leaders - Aitchison College". www.aitchison.edu.pk. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
- ^ "Harvard Affiliates Embark on 'Pakistan Trek' Over Spring Break | News | The Harvard Crimson". www.thecrimson.com. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
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