Malik Abbas
Chief Executive Officer
Founder of CoinConnect. Leads Pakistan's dedicated blockchain market entry legal and regulatory consultancy, with working relationships across PVARA, SECP and FBR. Operating in the market since 2022.
Licensed Legal Practice · Approved & Operational
CoinConnect Law Firm
Blockchain & VASP Legal Team
CoinConnect Law Firm is the licensed legal practice division of COIN CONNECT (SMC-PRIVATE) LIMITED, based in Karachi, Pakistan. The practice is approved and operational, and employs 28 specialists including advocates enrolled with Pakistani High Courts and ACAMS-certified compliance officers. Work covers PVARA licensing under the Virtual Assets Act 2026, SECP incorporation, FMU goAML registration and AML/CFT frameworks.
Practising in Pakistan's virtual asset market since 2022
28
Specialists across 9 functions
4
Enrolled advocates
14 yrs
Longest individual tenure
2022
Operating since
How Is the CoinConnect Group Structured?
COIN CONNECT (SMC-PRIVATE) LIMITED is the parent company. It operates two divisions — one licensed and operational, one in development. Both are stated here so there is no ambiguity about what is live today.
Parent Company
COIN CONNECT (SMC-PRIVATE) LIMITED
Incorporated 16 May 2025 in Karachi under the Companies Act 2017 (XIX of 2017). Single Member Company. Operating in Pakistan's virtual asset market since 2022.
SECP No. 0294969
FBR NTN G699950
Verify on the SECP register →
Division · Approved & Operational
CoinConnect Law Firm
The licensed legal practice division. Handles PVARA No Objection Certificate and VASP licence applications, SECP incorporation, AML/CFT framework design, FMU goAML registration, and regulatory enforcement defence. Staffed by the 28 specialists listed on this page, including four advocates enrolled before Pakistani courts.
● Licensed · Operational
Division · In Development
CoinConnect RegTech
The compliance infrastructure product line, currently in development and not yet generally available. Four products: FBR tax data conversion, automated withholding tax at withdrawal, NADRA-linked KYC verification, and bulk re-verification of existing user bases.
● In development
See the RegTech product line →
What Areas of Pakistani Law Does the Team Cover?
Six practice areas, each tied to the specific instrument it operates under. Full detail on the PVARA License & Sandbox Guide and ongoing analysis at CoinConnect Insights.
Virtual Asset Licensing
PVARA No Objection Certificate applications on Form A1 with supporting Forms A2–A5, full VASP licence applications across the ten Schedule I service categories, and Regulatory Sandbox filings on Form I. Regulatory & Licensing service →
Virtual Assets Act 2026 · NOC Regulations 2025Corporate & Company Law
SECP incorporation, entity structuring for foreign investors, MOA and AOA drafting, shareholder agreements, board structuring, and the eight Key Individual appointments PVARA requires. Corporate Setup service →
Companies Act 2017 (XIX of 2017)AML / CFT & Financial Crime
Board-approved AML/CFT policy, CDD and EDD procedures, targeted financial sanctions screening, transaction monitoring design, STR and CTR escalation, and FMU goAML registration.
AMLA 2010 · FATF Recommendation 15Tax Compliance
Licensee tax obligations under Section 66 of the Virtual Assets Act 2026, which directs licensees to the income tax statute and to any Rules or Regulations issued by the FBR. Those FBR rules have not yet been notified, so no prescribed VASP reporting format currently exists. Tax & Banking service →
Virtual Assets Act 2026, s.66 · FBR rules pendingBanking & Payments
Corporate account opening for virtual asset businesses, correspondent banking protocols, KYC/AML matrix design for bank onboarding, and liaison with the State Bank of Pakistan on payment system questions.
SBP regulatory frameworkEnforcement & Appeals
Defence of regulatory enforcement actions, licence suspension and revocation appeals, and proceedings before SECP tribunals and the High Courts. Section 62 of the Virtual Assets Act 2026 establishes a dedicated Virtual Assets Appellate Tribunal with a thirty-day filing window.
Virtual Assets Act 2026, ss.23, 59, 62–65Executive Leadership
Muhammad Rabi
Legal Head
Oversees all legal strategy and client advisory functions. Ensures every licensing application and regulatory submission meets the standards required by Pakistani corporate and financial law.
Tariq Mirza
Chief Operating Officer
LL.B. from LUMS; LL.M. in Corporate Governance from King's College London. Former Senior Associate at a leading Karachi law firm with 12 years managing legal operations and corporate restructuring for financial institutions. Advocate of the Sindh High Court.
Bilal Kardar
Chief Compliance Officer
LL.B. from University of the Punjab; certified CAMS and CFCP. 10 years as in-house compliance counsel at multinational banks in Lahore, designing AML/CFT frameworks aligned with FATF standards. Expert in digital asset transaction monitoring and regulatory examination preparedness.
Senior Directors
Tahir Mehmood Chaudhry
Director of Regulatory Liaison
LL.B. from University of the Punjab; LL.M. in Regulatory Law from SOAS, University of London. 8 years navigating Pakistan's financial regulatory architecture, including a secondment to a federal ministry's financial sector policy unit where he contributed to early drafts of virtual asset supervisory frameworks. Intimately familiar with SECP's internal review protocols and SBP's institutional compliance hierarchies. Known among peers for resolving regulatory bottlenecks before they reach formal objection stages.
Shazia Akhtar
Banking Integration Director
LL.B. from University of Karachi; MBA in Banking & Finance from IBA. 7 years in institutional banking compliance, including five years as senior legal counsel at one of Pakistan's largest commercial banks where she structured correspondent banking protocols and institutional onboarding frameworks. Deeply familiar with State Bank of Pakistan requirements for virtual asset business accounts at the operational level. Has advised multiple banks on tailoring their KYC/AML matrices for virtual asset clients.
Asif Kamal Sheikh
National AML Strategy Director
LL.B. from Quaid-e-Azam University; ACAMS and CFCP certified. 4 years in financial crime compliance, including an advisory assignment with the Financial Monitoring Unit where he contributed to the design of goAML reporting workflows for non-bank financial institutions. Architected the AML/CFT compliance infrastructure for three of Pakistan's largest payment system operators.
Hassan Qureshi
Corporate Structuring Counsel
LL.B. from LUMS; Advocate of the Sindh High Court. 7 years specialising in complex entity formations under the Companies Act 2017, with particular expertise in non-banking finance companies and special purpose vehicles for foreign investors. Has handled cases requiring SECP dispensations and sector-specific licensing pre-conditions.
Sadia Zaidi
Regulatory Documentation Lead
LL.B. from International Islamic University Islamabad; Masters in Urdu Linguistics from University of the Punjab. 4 years bridging statutory English and regulatory Urdu for financial services filings — directly relevant because Regulation 8A.1 of the NOC Regulations 2025 requires every document submitted to PVARA to be in English or Urdu, version-controlled, paginated, indexed and searchable. Drafted bilingual compliance manuals used as reference templates. Expert in evidentiary documentation standards required by Pakistani administrative tribunals.
Legal Counsel
Fatima Noor
Senior Legal Counsel — International VASP Law
LL.B. from Quaid-e-Azam University; LL.M. in International Financial Law from LSE. 3 years advising fintech and crypto exchanges on VASP licensing across UAE, EU and APAC jurisdictions. Structures MiCA and VARA-compliant market entry strategies.
Maisum Ali
Senior Legal Counsel — Domestic Regulatory Affairs
LL.B. from University of Karachi; enrolled as Advocate High Court. 4 years practising banking and securities law in Islamabad with extensive SECP and SBP liaison experience. Former legal advisor to a major non-banking finance company on digital lending regulations.
Zara Ahmed
Senior Legal Counsel — Enforcement & Appeals
LL.B. from International Islamic University Islamabad; LL.M. from Georgetown University Law Center. 2 years in litigation and appellate practice before SECP tribunals and the Islamabad High Court. Specialist in defending regulatory enforcement actions and licence revocation appeals.
Hamza Iqbal
Associate Legal Counsel
LL.B. from LUMS. 2 years at an Islamabad corporate law firm drafting licensing agreements and terms of service for payment service providers. Experience with the SECP eServices portal and NBFC registration procedures.
Rabia Qureshi
Associate Legal Counsel
LL.B. from University of the Punjab; LL.M. in Technology Law from University of Melbourne. 2 years advising blockchain startups on data protection, cross-border regulatory compliance and tokenization frameworks. Published researcher on South Asian DeFi governance.
Licensing Department
Tariq Mehmood
Senior Licensing Analyst
LL.B. from University of Karachi. 2 years in regulatory consulting, specialising in preparing VASP risk assessment frameworks, compliance manuals and fit-and-proper test documentation for Asian and African markets.
Nadia Hussain
Licensing Analyst
LL.B. from Quaid-e-Azam University. 3 years at an Islamabad policy think tank focused on digital finance regulation, blockchain governance and central bank digital currency policy research in South Asia.
Compliance & Regulatory Policy
Faisal Rehman
AML/CFT Compliance Manager
LL.B. from Punjab University; ACAMS certified. 3 years as Senior AML Investigator at a major Pakistani commercial bank. Designed transaction monitoring protocols for correspondent banking and remittance relationships, now adapted for virtual asset service providers.
Mehwish Tariq Awan
Regulatory Policy Advisor
LL.B. from University of Balochistan; Masters in Public Policy from LSE. 7 years drafting provincial and federal financial regulatory guidelines. Expert in translating FATF Recommendation 15 and Travel Rule requirements into locally enforceable frameworks.
Due Diligence
Danish Ali
Due Diligence Lead
LL.B. from University of Karachi; former prosecutor in the Sindh prosecution service. 5 years in corporate investigations, forensic due diligence and sanctions screening. Specialises in unravelling complex beneficial ownership structures and shell company networks — the exact analysis Form A2 of the NOC Regulations 2025 requires for every Controller and Beneficial Owner.
Hina Shahbaz Gillani
Senior Due Diligence Analyst
LL.B. from International Islamic University. 4 years conducting enhanced due diligence and source-of-funds verification for a Big Four advisory practice in Pakistan, focused on fintech, remittance and emerging virtual asset clients.
Paralegals
Usman Javed
Paralegal Supervisor
Bachelor of Laws from University of Peshawar. 5 years as senior paralegal at a commercial law firm in Lahore managing document review, due diligence indexing and licensing application bundles for M&A and financial services clients.
Ali Raza
Paralegal
LL.B. from University of Sindh; enrolled as Advocate Lower Court. 2 years assisting in corporate due diligence, beneficial ownership charting and regulatory filing preparation for exchange and wallet licensing applications.
Mariam Javed
Paralegal
BA-LL.B. from Kinnaird College for Women. 3 years at a Lahore legal consultancy handling case management, client intake and precedent research for banking and fintech licensing matters. Expert in legal citation and SECP compliance checklist preparation.
Technical & Business Development
Imran Saeed
Blockchain Technical Analyst
BS Computer Science from FAST NUCES; LL.B. from University of London (International Programme). 4 years as smart contract auditor and technical consultant for DeFi protocols. Bridges legal licensing requirements and on-chain technical implementation.
Saba Karim
Business Development Director
LL.B. from University of Karachi; MBA from IBA Karachi. 5 years in legal business development and strategic partnerships for professional services firms across South Asia and GCC markets.
Khalid Anwar
VASP Relationship Manager
LL.B. from Punjab University. 6 years as Client Relationship Executive at a Lahore-based corporate advisory managing portfolios of exchange, wallet and DeFi protocol clients seeking regulatory clarity in emerging jurisdictions.
Operations
Samina Faisal
Operations Manager
MBA from LUMS. 5 years in operations management at legal and consulting firms. Handles workflow, deadline tracking and resource allocation between the legal, compliance and licensing teams during high-volume application periods.
Farhan Bukhari
Administrative Coordinator
BBA from Institute of Management Sciences, Peshawar. 2 years in administrative coordination for professional services organisations. Manages scheduling, meeting logistics and document archiving for the licensing committee.
Team Composition & Credentials
How the 28-person practice breaks down by function, and which qualifications sit behind each.
| Function | People | Typical Qualification | Primary Instrument |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Leadership | 4 | LL.B. / LL.M.; CAMS, CFCP; Advocate, Sindh High Court | Virtual Assets Act 2026 |
| Senior Directors | 5 | LL.B. / LL.M.; ACAMS, CFCP; Advocate, Sindh High Court | Virtual Assets Act 2026 · Companies Act 2017 |
| Legal Counsel | 5 | LL.B. / LL.M.; Advocate High Court | Virtual Assets Act 2026 · AMLA 2010 |
| Licensing | 2 | LL.B. | NOC Regulations 2025 · Sandbox Guidelines 2026 |
| Compliance & Regulatory Policy | 2 | LL.B.; ACAMS; MPP | AMLA 2010 · FATF Recommendation 15 |
| Due Diligence | 2 | LL.B.; former prosecutor | NOC Regulations 2025, Forms A2–A3 |
| Paralegals | 3 | LL.B. / BA-LL.B.; Advocate Lower Court | Companies Act 2017 · SECP filings |
| Technical & Business Development | 3 | LL.B.; BS Computer Science; MBA | Schedule I technical classification |
| Operations | 2 | MBA; BBA | — |
| Total | 28 | 4 enrolled advocates · 3 ACAMS/CAMS · 2 CFCP | — |
Swipe the table sideways to see qualifications and instruments
Verification of credentials
Degrees, bar enrolments and professional certifications for named team members can be evidenced on request during a client due diligence or KYB process, ordinarily under a mutual non-disclosure agreement. Bar enrolment can be checked independently with the relevant provincial Bar Council. CoinConnect's own corporate registration is publicly verifiable — SECP number 0294969 and FBR NTN G699950.
Questions About Our Legal Practice
What exchange counsel and compliance teams ask before instructing a Pakistani adviser.
Is CoinConnect a law firm?
Yes. CoinConnect Law Firm is the licensed legal practice division of COIN CONNECT (SMC-PRIVATE) LIMITED, and it is approved and operational. The parent company is incorporated under the Companies Act 2017 with SECP Incorporation Number 0294969 and FBR National Tax Number G699950. The group operates two divisions: CoinConnect Law Firm, which is licensed and operational, and CoinConnect RegTech, a compliance infrastructure product line that is currently in development.
How is the CoinConnect group structured?
COIN CONNECT (SMC-PRIVATE) LIMITED is the parent company, incorporated in Karachi on 16 May 2025 under the Companies Act 2017, SECP number 0294969. It has two divisions. CoinConnect Law Firm is the licensed legal practice, approved and operational, handling PVARA licensing, SECP incorporation, AML/CFT frameworks and regulatory enforcement work. CoinConnect RegTech is the compliance infrastructure product line, currently in development, covering FBR tax data conversion, automated withholding tax, and NADRA-linked KYC verification. The group has operated in Pakistan's virtual asset market since 2022.
Does CoinConnect Law Firm have qualified lawyers on staff?
Yes. The practice comprises 28 specialists including lawyers holding LL.B. and LL.M. degrees from institutions such as LUMS, the University of the Punjab, the University of Karachi, Quaid-e-Azam University, International Islamic University Islamabad, King's College London, SOAS University of London, the London School of Economics, Georgetown University Law Center and the University of Melbourne. Four members are advocates enrolled before Pakistani courts, including two Advocates of the Sindh High Court. Compliance staff hold ACAMS, CAMS and CFCP certifications.
How large is CoinConnect Law Firm?
28 people across nine functions: executive leadership, senior directors, legal counsel, licensing, compliance and regulatory policy, due diligence, paralegals, technical and business development, and operations. Most hold law degrees; the technical, business development and operations functions are staffed by specialists in computer science, business administration and management.
Who leads CoinConnect Law Firm?
Muhammad Rabi is Legal Head and oversees legal strategy and client advisory. Tariq Mirza is Chief Operating Officer, holds an LL.B. from LUMS and an LL.M. in Corporate Governance from King's College London, and is an Advocate of the Sindh High Court. Bilal Kardar is Chief Compliance Officer and is CAMS and CFCP certified. The group is led by founder and CEO Malik Abbas.
Can CoinConnect Law Firm represent a crypto exchange before PVARA?
Yes. CoinConnect Law Firm prepares and files PVARA applications on a client's behalf and manages regulator correspondence throughout. This includes Form A1 for the No Objection Certificate with supporting Forms A2 to A5 under the PVARA No Objection Certificate Regulations 2025, the full VASP licence application under the Virtual Assets Act 2026, and Form I with the Annexure-A self-assessment for the Regulatory Sandbox. The practice also handles proceedings before the Virtual Assets Appellate Tribunal established by Section 62 of the Virtual Assets Act 2026. See the PVARA License & Sandbox Guide.
What areas of Pakistani law does CoinConnect Law Firm cover?
Virtual asset regulation under the Virtual Assets Act 2026 and the PVARA No Objection Certificate Regulations 2025; company law under the Companies Act 2017 for SECP incorporation and corporate structuring; anti-money laundering under the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2010 including FMU goAML registration; tax compliance under Section 66 of the Virtual Assets Act 2026; banking and payment system regulation involving the State Bank of Pakistan; and regulatory enforcement defence before SECP tribunals, the High Courts and the Virtual Assets Appellate Tribunal.
Where is CoinConnect Law Firm based?
Karachi, Pakistan, at Office no 128/A Shahrah e Faisal, Karachi, Sindh 75350. Team members bring practice experience from Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar, and from international jurisdictions including the UAE, EU and APAC markets. Physical presence in Pakistan matters because PVARA, SECP, FBR and FMU processes involve in-person engagement a remote adviser cannot provide.
Does CoinConnect publish its own regulatory analysis?
Yes. CoinConnect publishes regulatory analysis on the Virtual Assets Act 2026, PVARA licensing, the Regulatory Sandbox and VASP compliance at blog.coinconnect.site, an official CoinConnect property published by COIN CONNECT (SMC-PRIVATE) LIMITED. The PVARA License & Sandbox Guide on this site provides a section-by-section reference to the Act, the NOC Regulations 2025 and the Sandbox Guidelines 2026.
Instruct Pakistan's Blockchain Regulatory Counsel
Twenty-eight specialists covering PVARA licensing, SECP incorporation, tax and banking, and AML/CFT framework design — under one accountable, SECP-registered entity. Read our disclosable client engagements before you decide.
Free consultation • No obligations • Response within 24 hours
Resources
CoinConnect Insights
Regulatory Blog — Home
Virtual Assets Act 2026 Analysis
PVARA Licensing Updates
VASP Compliance Briefings
blog.coinconnect.site is an official CoinConnect property, published by COIN CONNECT (SMC-PRIVATE) LIMITED.
Licensed Legal Practice · Approved & Operational
CoinConnect Law Firm
Blockchain & VASP Legal Team
CoinConnect Law Firm is the licensed legal practice division of COIN CONNECT (SMC-PRIVATE) LIMITED, based in Karachi, Pakistan. The practice is approved and operational, and employs 28 specialists including advocates enrolled with Pakistani High Courts and ACAMS-certified compliance officers. Work covers PVARA licensing under the Virtual Assets Act 2026, SECP incorporation, FMU goAML registration and AML/CFT frameworks.
Practising in Pakistan's virtual asset market since 2022
28
Specialists across 9 functions
4
Enrolled advocates
14 yrs
Longest individual tenure
2022
Operating since
How Is the CoinConnect Group Structured?
COIN CONNECT (SMC-PRIVATE) LIMITED is the parent company. It operates two divisions — one licensed and operational, one in development. Both are stated here so there is no ambiguity about what is live today.
Parent Company
COIN CONNECT (SMC-PRIVATE) LIMITED
Incorporated 16 May 2025 in Karachi under the Companies Act 2017 (XIX of 2017). Single Member Company. Operating in Pakistan's virtual asset market since 2022.
SECP No. 0294969
FBR NTN G699950
Verify on the SECP register →
Division · Approved & Operational
CoinConnect Law Firm
The licensed legal practice division. Handles PVARA No Objection Certificate and VASP licence applications, SECP incorporation, AML/CFT framework design, FMU goAML registration, and regulatory enforcement defence. Staffed by the 28 specialists listed on this page, including four advocates enrolled before Pakistani courts.
● Licensed · Operational
Division · In Development
CoinConnect RegTech
The compliance infrastructure product line, currently in development and not yet generally available. Four products: FBR tax data conversion, automated withholding tax at withdrawal, NADRA-linked KYC verification, and bulk re-verification of existing user bases.
● In development
See the RegTech product line →
What Areas of Pakistani Law Does the Team Cover?
Six practice areas, each tied to the specific instrument it operates under. Full detail on the PVARA License & Sandbox Guide and ongoing analysis at CoinConnect Insights.
Virtual Asset Licensing
PVARA No Objection Certificate applications on Form A1 with supporting Forms A2–A5, full VASP licence applications across the ten Schedule I service categories, and Regulatory Sandbox filings on Form I. Regulatory & Licensing service →
Virtual Assets Act 2026 · NOC Regulations 2025Corporate & Company Law
SECP incorporation, entity structuring for foreign investors, MOA and AOA drafting, shareholder agreements, board structuring, and the eight Key Individual appointments PVARA requires. Corporate Setup service →
Companies Act 2017 (XIX of 2017)AML / CFT & Financial Crime
Board-approved AML/CFT policy, CDD and EDD procedures, targeted financial sanctions screening, transaction monitoring design, STR and CTR escalation, and FMU goAML registration.
AMLA 2010 · FATF Recommendation 15Tax Compliance
Licensee tax obligations under Section 66 of the Virtual Assets Act 2026, which directs licensees to the income tax statute and to any Rules or Regulations issued by the FBR. Those FBR rules have not yet been notified, so no prescribed VASP reporting format currently exists. Tax & Banking service →
Virtual Assets Act 2026, s.66 · FBR rules pendingBanking & Payments
Corporate account opening for virtual asset businesses, correspondent banking protocols, KYC/AML matrix design for bank onboarding, and liaison with the State Bank of Pakistan on payment system questions.
SBP regulatory frameworkEnforcement & Appeals
Defence of regulatory enforcement actions, licence suspension and revocation appeals, and proceedings before SECP tribunals and the High Courts. Section 62 of the Virtual Assets Act 2026 establishes a dedicated Virtual Assets Appellate Tribunal with a thirty-day filing window.
Virtual Assets Act 2026, ss.23, 59, 62–65Executive Leadership
Malik Abbas
Chief Executive Officer
Founder of CoinConnect. Leads Pakistan's dedicated blockchain market entry legal and regulatory consultancy, with working relationships across PVARA, SECP and FBR. Operating in the market since 2022.
Muhammad Rabi
Legal Head
Oversees all legal strategy and client advisory functions. Ensures every licensing application and regulatory submission meets the standards required by Pakistani corporate and financial law.
Tariq Mirza
Chief Operating Officer
LL.B. from LUMS; LL.M. in Corporate Governance from King's College London. Former Senior Associate at a leading Karachi law firm with 12 years managing legal operations and corporate restructuring for financial institutions. Advocate of the Sindh High Court.
Bilal Kardar
Chief Compliance Officer
LL.B. from University of the Punjab; certified CAMS and CFCP. 10 years as in-house compliance counsel at multinational banks in Lahore, designing AML/CFT frameworks aligned with FATF standards. Expert in digital asset transaction monitoring and regulatory examination preparedness.
Senior Directors
Tahir Mehmood Chaudhry
Director of Regulatory Liaison
LL.B. from University of the Punjab; LL.M. in Regulatory Law from SOAS, University of London. 8 years navigating Pakistan's financial regulatory architecture, including a secondment to a federal ministry's financial sector policy unit where he contributed to early drafts of virtual asset supervisory frameworks. Intimately familiar with SECP's internal review protocols and SBP's institutional compliance hierarchies. Known among peers for resolving regulatory bottlenecks before they reach formal objection stages.
Shazia Akhtar
Banking Integration Director
LL.B. from University of Karachi; MBA in Banking & Finance from IBA. 7 years in institutional banking compliance, including five years as senior legal counsel at one of Pakistan's largest commercial banks where she structured correspondent banking protocols and institutional onboarding frameworks. Deeply familiar with State Bank of Pakistan requirements for virtual asset business accounts at the operational level. Has advised multiple banks on tailoring their KYC/AML matrices for virtual asset clients.
Asif Kamal Sheikh
National AML Strategy Director
LL.B. from Quaid-e-Azam University; ACAMS and CFCP certified. 4 years in financial crime compliance, including an advisory assignment with the Financial Monitoring Unit where he contributed to the design of goAML reporting workflows for non-bank financial institutions. Architected the AML/CFT compliance infrastructure for three of Pakistan's largest payment system operators.
Hassan Qureshi
Corporate Structuring Counsel
LL.B. from LUMS; Advocate of the Sindh High Court. 7 years specialising in complex entity formations under the Companies Act 2017, with particular expertise in non-banking finance companies and special purpose vehicles for foreign investors. Has handled cases requiring SECP dispensations and sector-specific licensing pre-conditions.
Sadia Zaidi
Regulatory Documentation Lead
LL.B. from International Islamic University Islamabad; Masters in Urdu Linguistics from University of the Punjab. 4 years bridging statutory English and regulatory Urdu for financial services filings — directly relevant because Regulation 8A.1 of the NOC Regulations 2025 requires every document submitted to PVARA to be in English or Urdu, version-controlled, paginated, indexed and searchable. Drafted bilingual compliance manuals used as reference templates. Expert in evidentiary documentation standards required by Pakistani administrative tribunals.
Legal Counsel
Fatima Noor
Senior Legal Counsel — International VASP Law
LL.B. from Quaid-e-Azam University; LL.M. in International Financial Law from LSE. 3 years advising fintech and crypto exchanges on VASP licensing across UAE, EU and APAC jurisdictions. Structures MiCA and VARA-compliant market entry strategies.
Maisum Ali
Senior Legal Counsel — Domestic Regulatory Affairs
LL.B. from University of Karachi; enrolled as Advocate High Court. 4 years practising banking and securities law in Islamabad with extensive SECP and SBP liaison experience. Former legal advisor to a major non-banking finance company on digital lending regulations.
Zara Ahmed
Senior Legal Counsel — Enforcement & Appeals
LL.B. from International Islamic University Islamabad; LL.M. from Georgetown University Law Center. 2 years in litigation and appellate practice before SECP tribunals and the Islamabad High Court. Specialist in defending regulatory enforcement actions and licence revocation appeals.
Hamza Iqbal
Associate Legal Counsel
LL.B. from LUMS. 2 years at an Islamabad corporate law firm drafting licensing agreements and terms of service for payment service providers. Experience with the SECP eServices portal and NBFC registration procedures.
Rabia Qureshi
Associate Legal Counsel
LL.B. from University of the Punjab; LL.M. in Technology Law from University of Melbourne. 2 years advising blockchain startups on data protection, cross-border regulatory compliance and tokenization frameworks. Published researcher on South Asian DeFi governance.
Licensing Department
Tariq Mehmood
Senior Licensing Analyst
LL.B. from University of Karachi. 2 years in regulatory consulting, specialising in preparing VASP risk assessment frameworks, compliance manuals and fit-and-proper test documentation for Asian and African markets.
Nadia Hussain
Licensing Analyst
LL.B. from Quaid-e-Azam University. 3 years at an Islamabad policy think tank focused on digital finance regulation, blockchain governance and central bank digital currency policy research in South Asia.
Compliance & Regulatory Policy
Faisal Rehman
AML/CFT Compliance Manager
LL.B. from Punjab University; ACAMS certified. 3 years as Senior AML Investigator at a major Pakistani commercial bank. Designed transaction monitoring protocols for correspondent banking and remittance relationships, now adapted for virtual asset service providers.
Mehwish Tariq Awan
Regulatory Policy Advisor
LL.B. from University of Balochistan; Masters in Public Policy from LSE. 7 years drafting provincial and federal financial regulatory guidelines. Expert in translating FATF Recommendation 15 and Travel Rule requirements into locally enforceable frameworks.
Due Diligence
Danish Ali
Due Diligence Lead
LL.B. from University of Karachi; former prosecutor in the Sindh prosecution service. 5 years in corporate investigations, forensic due diligence and sanctions screening. Specialises in unravelling complex beneficial ownership structures and shell company networks — the exact analysis Form A2 of the NOC Regulations 2025 requires for every Controller and Beneficial Owner.
Hina Shahbaz Gillani
Senior Due Diligence Analyst
LL.B. from International Islamic University. 4 years conducting enhanced due diligence and source-of-funds verification for a Big Four advisory practice in Pakistan, focused on fintech, remittance and emerging virtual asset clients.
Paralegals
Usman Javed
Paralegal Supervisor
Bachelor of Laws from University of Peshawar. 5 years as senior paralegal at a commercial law firm in Lahore managing document review, due diligence indexing and licensing application bundles for M&A and financial services clients.
Ali Raza
Paralegal
LL.B. from University of Sindh; enrolled as Advocate Lower Court. 2 years assisting in corporate due diligence, beneficial ownership charting and regulatory filing preparation for exchange and wallet licensing applications.
Mariam Javed
Paralegal
BA-LL.B. from Kinnaird College for Women. 3 years at a Lahore legal consultancy handling case management, client intake and precedent research for banking and fintech licensing matters. Expert in legal citation and SECP compliance checklist preparation.
Technical & Business Development
Imran Saeed
Blockchain Technical Analyst
BS Computer Science from FAST NUCES; LL.B. from University of London (International Programme). 4 years as smart contract auditor and technical consultant for DeFi protocols. Bridges legal licensing requirements and on-chain technical implementation.
Saba Karim
Business Development Director
LL.B. from University of Karachi; MBA from IBA Karachi. 5 years in legal business development and strategic partnerships for professional services firms across South Asia and GCC markets.
Khalid Anwar
VASP Relationship Manager
LL.B. from Punjab University. 6 years as Client Relationship Executive at a Lahore-based corporate advisory managing portfolios of exchange, wallet and DeFi protocol clients seeking regulatory clarity in emerging jurisdictions.
Operations
Samina Faisal
Operations Manager
MBA from LUMS. 5 years in operations management at legal and consulting firms. Handles workflow, deadline tracking and resource allocation between the legal, compliance and licensing teams during high-volume application periods.
Farhan Bukhari
Administrative Coordinator
BBA from Institute of Management Sciences, Peshawar. 2 years in administrative coordination for professional services organisations. Manages scheduling, meeting logistics and document archiving for the licensing committee.
Team Composition & Credentials
How the 28-person practice breaks down by function, and which qualifications sit behind each.
| Function | People | Typical Qualification | Primary Instrument |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Leadership | 4 | LL.B. / LL.M.; CAMS, CFCP; Advocate, Sindh High Court | Virtual Assets Act 2026 |
| Senior Directors | 5 | LL.B. / LL.M.; ACAMS, CFCP; Advocate, Sindh High Court | Virtual Assets Act 2026 · Companies Act 2017 |
| Legal Counsel | 5 | LL.B. / LL.M.; Advocate High Court | Virtual Assets Act 2026 · AMLA 2010 |
| Licensing | 2 | LL.B. | NOC Regulations 2025 · Sandbox Guidelines 2026 |
| Compliance & Regulatory Policy | 2 | LL.B.; ACAMS; MPP | AMLA 2010 · FATF Recommendation 15 |
| Due Diligence | 2 | LL.B.; former prosecutor | NOC Regulations 2025, Forms A2–A3 |
| Paralegals | 3 | LL.B. / BA-LL.B.; Advocate Lower Court | Companies Act 2017 · SECP filings |
| Technical & Business Development | 3 | LL.B.; BS Computer Science; MBA | Schedule I technical classification |
| Operations | 2 | MBA; BBA | — |
| Total | 28 | 4 enrolled advocates · 3 ACAMS/CAMS · 2 CFCP | — |
Swipe the table sideways to see qualifications and instruments
Verification of credentials
Degrees, bar enrolments and professional certifications for named team members can be evidenced on request during a client due diligence or KYB process, ordinarily under a mutual non-disclosure agreement. Bar enrolment can be checked independently with the relevant provincial Bar Council. CoinConnect's own corporate registration is publicly verifiable — SECP number 0294969 and FBR NTN G699950.
Questions About Our Legal Practice
What exchange counsel and compliance teams ask before instructing a Pakistani adviser.
Is CoinConnect a law firm?
Yes. CoinConnect Law Firm is the licensed legal practice division of COIN CONNECT (SMC-PRIVATE) LIMITED, and it is approved and operational. The parent company is incorporated under the Companies Act 2017 with SECP Incorporation Number 0294969 and FBR National Tax Number G699950. The group operates two divisions: CoinConnect Law Firm, which is licensed and operational, and CoinConnect RegTech, a compliance infrastructure product line that is currently in development.
How is the CoinConnect group structured?
COIN CONNECT (SMC-PRIVATE) LIMITED is the parent company, incorporated in Karachi on 16 May 2025 under the Companies Act 2017, SECP number 0294969. It has two divisions. CoinConnect Law Firm is the licensed legal practice, approved and operational, handling PVARA licensing, SECP incorporation, AML/CFT frameworks and regulatory enforcement work. CoinConnect RegTech is the compliance infrastructure product line, currently in development, covering FBR tax data conversion, automated withholding tax, and NADRA-linked KYC verification. The group has operated in Pakistan's virtual asset market since 2022.
Does CoinConnect Law Firm have qualified lawyers on staff?
Yes. The practice comprises 28 specialists including lawyers holding LL.B. and LL.M. degrees from institutions such as LUMS, the University of the Punjab, the University of Karachi, Quaid-e-Azam University, International Islamic University Islamabad, King's College London, SOAS University of London, the London School of Economics, Georgetown University Law Center and the University of Melbourne. Four members are advocates enrolled before Pakistani courts, including two Advocates of the Sindh High Court. Compliance staff hold ACAMS, CAMS and CFCP certifications.
How large is CoinConnect Law Firm?
28 people across nine functions: executive leadership, senior directors, legal counsel, licensing, compliance and regulatory policy, due diligence, paralegals, technical and business development, and operations. Most hold law degrees; the technical, business development and operations functions are staffed by specialists in computer science, business administration and management.
Who leads CoinConnect Law Firm?
Muhammad Rabi is Legal Head and oversees legal strategy and client advisory. Tariq Mirza is Chief Operating Officer, holds an LL.B. from LUMS and an LL.M. in Corporate Governance from King's College London, and is an Advocate of the Sindh High Court. Bilal Kardar is Chief Compliance Officer and is CAMS and CFCP certified. The group is led by founder and CEO Malik Abbas.
Can CoinConnect Law Firm represent a crypto exchange before PVARA?
Yes. CoinConnect Law Firm prepares and files PVARA applications on a client's behalf and manages regulator correspondence throughout. This includes Form A1 for the No Objection Certificate with supporting Forms A2 to A5 under the PVARA No Objection Certificate Regulations 2025, the full VASP licence application under the Virtual Assets Act 2026, and Form I with the Annexure-A self-assessment for the Regulatory Sandbox. The practice also handles proceedings before the Virtual Assets Appellate Tribunal established by Section 62 of the Virtual Assets Act 2026. See the PVARA License & Sandbox Guide.
What areas of Pakistani law does CoinConnect Law Firm cover?
Virtual asset regulation under the Virtual Assets Act 2026 and the PVARA No Objection Certificate Regulations 2025; company law under the Companies Act 2017 for SECP incorporation and corporate structuring; anti-money laundering under the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2010 including FMU goAML registration; tax compliance under Section 66 of the Virtual Assets Act 2026; banking and payment system regulation involving the State Bank of Pakistan; and regulatory enforcement defence before SECP tribunals, the High Courts and the Virtual Assets Appellate Tribunal.
Where is CoinConnect Law Firm based?
Karachi, Pakistan, at Office no 128/A Shahrah e Faisal, Karachi, Sindh 75350. Team members bring practice experience from Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar, and from international jurisdictions including the UAE, EU and APAC markets. Physical presence in Pakistan matters because PVARA, SECP, FBR and FMU processes involve in-person engagement a remote adviser cannot provide.
Does CoinConnect publish its own regulatory analysis?
Yes. CoinConnect publishes regulatory analysis on the Virtual Assets Act 2026, PVARA licensing, the Regulatory Sandbox and VASP compliance at blog.coinconnect.site, an official CoinConnect property published by COIN CONNECT (SMC-PRIVATE) LIMITED. The PVARA License & Sandbox Guide on this site provides a section-by-section reference to the Act, the NOC Regulations 2025 and the Sandbox Guidelines 2026.
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blog.coinconnect.site is an official CoinConnect property, published by COIN CONNECT (SMC-PRIVATE) LIMITED.