Names of PTI founder Imran Khan, ex-FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi surface in Epstein files

Web Desk: Newly released documents known as the Epstein Files, issued by the United States Department of Justice, have revealed the names of influential and prominent figures from around the world, media reports say. 

The files also contain limited references related to Pakistan, including mentions of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

The Epstein Files comprise records of networks, associations, meetings, and email correspondence linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The documents include the names of hundreds of politicians, business leaders, and globally influential individuals; however, the nature and significance of all references are not considered uniform.

Reports indicate that references to Pakistan in the Epstein Files are limited and largely cursory in nature. Compared to other serious global disclosures, these mentions are considered relatively minor, though Pakistan’s inclusion has nonetheless attracted attention.

Media reports further state that some emails exchanged between teams linked to Jeffrey Epstein and Microsoft founder Bill Gates make reference to polio eradication programs. These emails also mention Boris Nikolic, a former advisor to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

According to sources, one email from an unidentified individual informed Epstein about attacks on polio teams in Pakistan and Nigeria, while raising questions about potential involvement or implications in such circumstances.

Additionally, media reports cite an email exchange between Boris Nikolic and Jeffrey Epstein suggesting that Bill Gates was unhappy with a Pakistani media report that mentioned a possible phone conversation with Imran Khan. According to the report, there were concerns that such news could create difficulties for the polio vaccination campaign.

The Epstein Files also reportedly reference a 2010 email exchange between Jeffrey Epstein and a senior executive at JPMorgan. According to media sources, the email mentions private meetings between Epstein and certain foreign figures, including then Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

Furthermore, media reports state that a September 2018 email from Jade Zettlin of Goldman Sachs to Jeffrey Epstein compared Imran Khan’s leadership to a “slow-motion car crash,” despite perceived support from China. This view is presented in the files as a personal opinion.

The Epstein Files also contain some non-political references related to Pakistan. According to media sources, certain emails show Epstein expressing an interest in Pakistani shalwar kameez. In one email, he asks about the names of the garments, while another mentions the imminent delivery of five clothing sets from Pakistan.

Media reports note that the name of former U.S. President Donald Trump appears multiple times in the Epstein Files. However, President Trump has stated that the newly released documents contain no evidence of illegal activity on his part and that the files exonerate him from allegations.

Sources emphasize that it would be incorrect to view all names mentioned in the Epstein Files from the same perspective. References related to Pakistan are described as limited, non-central, and largely confined to email correspondence. Nonetheless, the global release of these documents has once again sparked debate over the connections and networks of powerful figures worldwide.