Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and his wife Bushra Bibi were indicted on Tuesday in the £190 million graft reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The accountability court hearing took place in Adiala Jail, where both accused individuals denied the charges leveled against them.
During the hearing, Accountability Court Judge Nasir Javed Rana announced the indictment and scheduled the next hearing for March 6, summoning five witnesses to record their statements. Imran Khan, accompanied by Barrister Salman Safdar, Umair Niazi, and other lawyers, expressed his refusal to read the charge sheet, stating, “I know what is written in it.”
The case revolves around the transfer of funds from the National Crime Agency (NCA) account in Britain, where the NAB Rawalpindi has called upon Bushra Bibi to provide her statement as a witness due to her role as a trustee of the Al-Qadir University Trust. Imran Khan, the former prime minister, has been summoned by the combined investigation team (CIT) of the NAB.
The British government discovered £140 million in an account owned by the son of a prominent Pakistani real estate tycoon and his wife in 2019, leading to suspicions of proceeds from criminal activities. The National Crime Agency froze the funds, and after legal procedures, the UK returned the laundered funds to the Pakistani government in 2019.
During the proceedings, Imran Khan requested to meet his wife, which was approved by the court in the previous hearing. Additionally, he sought permission to consult his doctor for a dental checkup, expressing concerns about not seeing his doctor for seven months. The court advised him to consult the jail medic, and Khan requested permission to submit an application.
Background of the £190 million Imran Khan Case
The background of the case involves NAB launching an inquiry into the Al-Qadir University Trust case, later turning it into an investigation. NAB alleges that Imran Khan and his wife obtained billions of rupees and land from Malik Riaz of Bahria Town in return for a settlement payment of Rs 50 billion, adjusted in lieu of a fine imposed by the Supreme Court.
Imran Khan’s arrest on the Islamabad High Court premises, where he was seeking bail in multiple FIRs, was declared “legal” by the IHC. The case continues to unfold, highlighting the complexities of financial transactions and settlements involving prominent political figures.
