The accountability court of the federal capital, Islamabad, reserved its decision on the plea of acquittal of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi in the £190 million reference, which is likely to be heard today.
Accountability Court Islamabad Judge Nasir Javed Rana heard the 190 million pounds reference in Adiala Jail Rawalpindi in which both Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi appeared.
Due to the non-appearance of Imran Khan’s lawyer, a witness could not be cross-examined, which is likely to take place today, after which the verdict will be pronounced.
During the hearing, Bushra Bibi’s lawyer and NAB Prosecutor General argued against each other.
After the arguments of the parties were completed, the court reserved judgment on Bushra Bibi’s plea for acquittal in the £190 million reference, which is likely to be heard today.
What is the £190 million case?
According to NAB, Malik Riaz, the owner of Bahria Town, has donated 458 kanals, 4 marles and 58 square feet of land to Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife for Al-Qadir Trust University in Mouza Barkala, Tehsil Sohaw, District Jhelum. As such, Imran Khan had benefited Malik Riaz to the tune of 50 billion rupees.
In October 2022, NAB started investigating the matter. According to NAB documents, in the cabinet meeting chaired by Imran Khan on December 3, 2019, it was decided to indirectly transfer the amount of 50 billion rupees received from Britain to Malik Riaz. The money was seized by the British National Crime Agency (NCA) on allegations of money laundering from Pakistani property tycoon Malik Riaz.
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan had registered the trust for the Al-Qadir University project within weeks of the Cabinet decision on December 26, 2019 regarding the real estate developer who later became a donor to the university.
According to NAB, just three weeks before the registration of the trust, Imran Khan’s cabinet had decided to indirectly return the money received by Pakistan through the National Crime Agency to Malik Riaz.
Taking notice of corruption and corrupt practices in this matter, NAB Rawalpindi summoned all the members present in the cabinet meeting on December 3, 2019 including Pervez Khattak, Fawad Chaudhry and Sheikh Rasheed on separate dates under NAB Ordinance 1999.
The notice stated that ‘During the inquiry into allegations of abuse of power, financial gain and criminal mischief, it has been found that as a cabinet member, you attended the cabinet meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office on December 3, 2019, in which item no. Decided on 2.’
According to the notice, item number 2 in the said cabinet meeting was titled ‘Order freezing the accounts of Ahmad Ali Riaz, his family and M/s Bahria Town and transferring funds to Pakistan.’
The agenda item on this issue was presented by the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Accountability and Home Affairs (Shehzad Akbar) and along with the briefing, directed the Cabinet Secretary to seal the records. Ahmed Ali Riaz, son of property tycoon Malik Riaz, was also summoned in the notice.
How did NCA money get back to Malik Riaz?
In 2019, Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) investigated Malik Riaz, and as a result of these investigations, Malik Riaz paid 190 million pounds to the NCA under a settlement.
The NCA had said that the amount of 190 million pounds obtained as a result of this settlement is the property of the state of Pakistan, which was transferred to Pakistan.
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However, on arrival in Pakistan, according to a decision of the cabinet, the money reached the account of the Supreme Court instead of the national treasury, in which Malik Riaz is paying in installments through a settlement of 460 billion rupees to the Supreme Court in the Bahria Town Karachi case.
Thus, according to NAB, the money seized from an accused was returned to the same accused, while this money was the property of the state of Pakistan, but it was spent to meet the personal debt of Malik Riaz.
In this regard, a decision was taken in a cabinet meeting chaired by former Prime Minister Imran Khan in 2019 and the record was also sealed by declaring the matter sensitive.
The details of the agreement made by NCA with Malik Riaz were also kept secret and after NCA the government of Pakistan also did not disclose to the public or the media the details of how the money of the state of Pakistan was again used by Malik Riaz. had gone
NAB’s position?
NAB said that the case against him related to illegal acquisition and construction of land for Al-Qadir University with illegal benefit in recovery of principal amount (190 million British pounds) by National Crime Agency, UK. is included.
According to NAB, former Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Shehzad Akbar was the key person involved in the said case. He and the former prime minister had been misleading their cabinet by hiding the facts and documents related to the settlement agreement.
The amount was received under the settlement agreement (190 million British pounds) and was supposed to be deposited in the national exchequer, but the amount was adjusted to the contrary in the Bahria Town Karachi case, which was approved by the Supreme Court of Pakistan for a payment plan of 460 billion rupees. was dealt against.
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2024-09-05 07:22:15