Epstein files mention Imran Khan, SM Qureshi among global figures

WASHINGTON: The names of founding chairman PTI Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi have also surfaced in the Jeffrey Epstein files.

According to media reports, the names of influential and well-known personalities from around the world have been revealed in the latest documents released by the US Department of Justice called the Epstein files.

These files also include a few references related to Pakistan, including the names of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

The Epstein files consist of networks, contacts, meetings and email correspondence related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. These documents include the names of hundreds of politicians, businessmen and people with global influence, however, not all these references are considered to be of the same nature.

According to reports, the mention of Pakistan in the Epstein files is limited and mostly cursory, and these references are considered to be minor compared to other serious revelations that have come to light globally, but the fact that Pakistan’s name appears in the files has certainly attracted attention.

Media reports have indicated that some emails between Jeffrey Epstein and Microsoft founder Bill Gates’ teams mention a polio eradication program. These emails also include the name of Boris Nikolic, a former advisor to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

According to sources, in one email, an unknown person informs Epstein that polio teams are being attacked in Pakistan and Nigeria and questions his possible role in this situation.

According to media reports, an email between Boris Nikolic and Jeffrey Epstein indicates that Bill Gates was not happy with the news published in the Pakistani media that mentioned a possible phone conversation with Imran Khan. According to the report, there were concerns that such news could create problems for the polio campaign.

The Epstein files also refer to a 2010 email between Jeffrey Epstein and a senior official at JP Morgan. According to media sources, this email mentions private meetings between some foreign figures with Epstein, including the name of the then Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

According to media reports, in an email dated September 2018, Jade Zeitlin, an associate of Goldman Sachs, wrote to Jeffrey Epstein that he thought Imran Khan’s leadership was akin to a slow-motion car crash, even if he had the support of China. This opinion is also presented as personal views included in the files.

The Epstein files also contain a few non-political references related to Pakistan. According to media sources, Jeffrey Epstein is shown expressing a preference for Pakistani shalwar kameez in some emails. In one email, he asks about the names of the trousers and shirts, while in another email, he is informed that a shipment of 5 pairs of clothes will arrive from Pakistan soon.

According to media reports, US President Donald Trump’s name has also appeared several times in the Epstein files, however, President Trump has taken the position that the newly released documents do not contain any evidence of any illegal activity against him and the files have exonerated him of the charges.

According to sources, it is not considered correct to look at all the names included in the Epstein files from the same angle. The references related to Pakistan are being described as limited, decentralized and mostly limited to email correspondence, however, the release of these documents at the global level has once again sparked a debate on the connections of powerful circles.