Prosecution ends arguments in £190m case against Imran and Bushra – Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Trial of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in €190 million corruption case draws to a close as prosecution completes final arguments .

The defense would begin its response today (Wednesday).

Accountability court judge Nasir Javed Rana presided over the hearing in Adiala jail on Tuesday as Mr Khan and his wife appeared in court.

The prosecution, represented by NAB lawyer Amjad Pervaiz, shed light on the developments in the case and the allegations against Mr. Khan and his associates.

ECP questions Adiala prison administrator over Imran's non-appearance

In its reference against Mr Khan, the NAB alleged that the former prime minister's office approved a confidential act in 2019 to give 190 million seized by the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) and returned to Pakistan to real estate tycoon Malik Riaz.

The case alleged that the former prime minister and his wife, Ms. Bushra, got billions of rupees and land worth hundreds of kanals from Mr. Riazs Bahria town in return for legalizing the money.

Mr. Pervaiz, lawyer of NAB, said that the act relating to the recovery of 190 million was signed on November 6, 2019.

The first installment of the funds was deposited into the Supreme Court account to pay the heavy fine imposed by the Bahria Town High Court on November 29, 2019. Approval of the act was sought from the federal cabinet later , December 3, 2019.

Mr. Pervaiz argued that the cabinet was not informed that the first payment had already reached Pakistan.

The act was sent to the ANC before receiving cabinet approval, raising questions about procedural violations.

The accountability watchdog highlighted violations of the 1973 operating rules, arguing that any questions must be circulated seven days in advance before being tabled in cabinet.

What was the emergency that the case was not released on time? » asked the NAB lawyer.

The recovered money was transferred to the Supreme Court's account rather than the federal government's account, which was inappropriate.

The NAB lawyer stressed that there is no law preventing the agreement between the NCA and the Assets Recovery Unit (ARU) set up by former Prime Minister Khan to bring back looted money from countries to Pakistan foreigners is made public.

Under the NAB Act, any donation or grant received by a public office holder becomes the property of the government.

The anti-corruption watchdog claimed Mr Riaz's son transferred 240 kanals of land to Farah Shahzadi, a close friend of Ms Bushra, while Zulfi Bukhari, an aide to Mr Khan, received land under a trust which, according to the NAB, did not exist at the time. the time of money transfer.

The prosecution further alleged that a trust was only created after the £190 million was adjusted, raising doubts about its legitimacy and purpose.

Contempt at the ECP

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) asked authorities at Adiala Prison why Mr Khan was not allowed to attend its proceedings via video link.

The commission incarcerated Mr. Khan for alleged contempt and asked the prison authorities to produce him for the proceedings.

During Tuesday's hearing, Mr Khan's lawyer Faisal Chaudhry said the prison authorities' non-cooperation amounted to contempt of the ECP.

The election body had initiated proceedings against Mr. Khan in August 2022 for alleged contempt of the ECP and the Chief Election Commissioner during discussions and media interviews.

Mr. Chaudhry said that in the previous hearing, the committee had ordered the PTI founder to appear through video link.

At this point, the leader of the three-member ECP panel, Nisar Ahmed Durrani, asked whether arrangements had been made for Mr Khan's virtual appearance.

In response, ECP officials said arrangements were in place from their end. However, the video link was not activated from the prison, although staff were dispatched for this purpose.

Mr Chaudhry said his client would not be allowed to appear virtually because there was an unannounced ban on displaying his photo or broadcasting his statements.

If prison authorities do not allow Mr. Khan to appear virtually, he should be summoned in person, Mr. Chaudhry argued.

ECP's lawyer raised the possibility of a technical problem and said the failure to appear does not appear deliberate. He added that evidence cannot be recorded in the absence of the accused.

Later, the ECP sought a response from the prison authorities and adjourned the hearing to January 15.

Iftikhar A. Khan also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, December 18, 2024

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