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ISLAMABAD - Business Tycoon Sadruddin Hashwani has denied that an American spy operation, led by Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), was being carried out from the Marriott Hotel when it was bombed in 2008.

“The fire broke on fourth floor within minutes of the explosion. There was no remote possibility that the bomb explosion would have caused it; the flames were rapidly changing colour, like it had been triggered by some chemicals. What were the chemicals and who ignited that fire is still a mystery,” said Sadruddin Hashwani in an exclusive interview to this scribe at his Islamabad residence.

Hashwani, however, admitted that many foreigners were staying at fourth floor where the fire broke out.

“All the foreigners were staying in their individual capacity. If someone was staying there with a girlfriend who was an operative, I don’t know about it,” Hashwani said.

“But Pakistani authorities and agencies have all the record of the guests who were staying. After the attack, we provided all the information and data of the guests, even CCTV footages to intelligence agencies,” he said.

A deadly suicide truck bombing destroyed the front of Marriott Hotel in September 2008, killing dozens of people and wounding hundreds. Hashwani himself narrowly escaped the attack.

After the attack it was reported that CIA was carrying out some covert operation from the hotel building and the foreign spies were the target of the suicide bomber.

Some news accounts at that time speculated that the operatives destroyed their belongings by setting them on fire, as is the standard operating procedure. It was also reported by some media outlets that Asif Ali Zardari, who was president at that time, was scheduled to visit the hotel and he was the primary target.

“No, not at all, there was no visit of president scheduled that day. It was a propaganda from the President House just to secure some soft corner for Zardari,” Hashwani said dismissively. “Later during his visit to Washington, he falsely claimed that he was the target of that bombing.”

Born in 1940, Hashwani is a college dropout who built and sustained a huge business empire. During the interview, he took pride in his lifelong struggle and highlighted his business achievements.

With the reputation of having strong relations with Western powers and Pakistan Army, Hashwani said he left the country as he was afraid of Asif Ali Zardari.

“Zardari tried to kill me many times and once I was rescued by the then Pakistan Army general Jehangir Karamat. Army, intelligence and Mehran force have all records that how killers were hired to kill me, I left the country in heavy escort of army men,” Hashwani said with a bitter, angry voice.

When asked how an honest men like him flourished in what he terms a corrupt and dishonest environment, he attributed his business success to God.

“The bureaucrats and other civil servants become my enemy when I pointed out corruption in the system; vested interests in policy decisions. It is only Allah who has granted me success and money and fame,” Hashwani said. “Otherwise people are very much jealous of me.”

Hashwani spoke loud against nationalisation of institutions in Bhutto regime and stressed that by denationalising institutions, productivity could be enhanced manifold.

“Government officials simply lack skills and expertise required to run business. For example, I believe Oil and Gas Company should be privatised completely, if you want real progress,” Hashwani said.

Since diversifying into the oil and gas sector in 1995 through Orient Petroleum, Hashwani is now eyeing the energy sector in various nations. He’s had a successful oil business in Texas, US in the past but his focus is now on developing nations, including Pakistan, where his firm has some ambitious plans in the energy sector.

In the past, Hashwani also bought PPL but, according to him, PML-N stalwart Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan compelled him to withdraw ownership of this lucrative oil and gas company of the country.

Presently, Hashwani is in the process of shifting back to Pakistan after spending more than five years in self exile in Dubai, which he, in his own words, adopted him to save his life.

He says he has renovated his house in Pakistan and would stay here permanently. However, for business purposes, he would frequently visit Dubai, as foreign businessman avoid Pakistan due to deteriorating law and order situation.

At a time when Hashwani is all set for a comeback to his country, his PR Company is busy promoting the launch of his memoir, “Truth Always Prevails”, and trying hard to make headlines about the business tycoon.

When asked why his book was launched at a time when he was in the process of shifting back to expand his business in the country, and if criticism of Zardari was meant to gain sympathies of his political rival Nawaz Sharif, Hashwani said: “It is an irony of fate that during the PPP regime, People’s Party thinks I am pro-Nawaz and during Nawaz regime, I am labeled as a PPP supporter.”

“Is it not an irony that my achievements have been appreciated throughout the world and recently I have received the title of knight from the king of Belgium,” Hashwani said. “But here, nobody even bothered to give me the Pride of Performance Award.”