Vawda calls 190 million reference against Imran Khan 'open and shut case'

Senator Faisal Vawda addresses a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on January 12, 2024. YouTube/Geo News/screengrab

Senator Faisal Vawda on Sunday asserted that the conviction of incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan in the 190 million Al-Qadir Trust case was inevitable and termed the mega-corruption scam a business open and closed.

His remarks come as an accountability court in Rawalpindi is set to announce its much-awaited judgment in the $190 million case against PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi on Monday (today). Justice Nasir Javed Rana will announce the verdict in the case at 11 am at Adiala jail.

Addressing a press conference in Karachi, Vawda said, “The reference to 190 million is an open and shut case. The PTI founder has committed a crime and will be punished.”

The 71-year-old cricketer-turned-politician has been behind bars since August last year after being convicted in the Toshakhana case, one of dozens of cases registered against the former prime minister since his ouster from power in April 2022.

“When Khan signed it, I warned him that it would lead to a case at the National Accountability Bureau (NAB),” the senator revealed. Launching a fresh salvo against his former party chief, Vawda said: “Being popular does not mean you are above everything else.”

Without naming anyone, he alleged that Khan's close associates conspired to have him killed.

Praising the army, Vawda, known for his close ties with the establishment, hailed the security forces for their unprecedented sacrifices in restoring peace in the country.

Dismissing rumors, he said there was no external pressure or secret dialogue between the former ruling party and the establishment at the time.

He urged the PTI to show sincerity in its negotiations with the coalition government.

Responding to a question, Vawda said: There is good news for Pakistan's economy. The backdoor diplomacy of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir will benefit the country.

Something good will happen from Monday, he added. Without elaborating, the senator noted that the government intended to break the news and said he would give him the credit.

It is worth noting that the verdict in the $190 million case against the jailed former prime minister and his wife has been repeatedly delayed for various reasons.

Judgment was recently postponed to January 6 due to the judge's permission.

What is the Al-Qadir Trust affair?

The anti-corruption watchdog had filed an appeal against Khan, Bushra and others in December 2023 over the alleged settlement.

According to the charges in the case, Khan and other accused at the time allegedly adjusted the Rs 50 billion 190 million sent by the British National Crime Agency (NCA) to the Pakistani government as part of the tycoon deal real estate.

Subsequently, the then Prime Minister obtained approval from his cabinet for the settlement with the UK's crime agency on December 3, 2019, without disclosing details of the confidential agreement.

It was decided that the money would be submitted to the Supreme Court on behalf of the tycoon.

According to NAB officials, the PTI founder and his wife got land worth billions of rupees from the real estate tycoon to build an educational institution, in return for entering into a deal to to give legal cover to property tycoons, with black money received from the British crime agency. .

Later, the Al-Qadir Trust was established in Islamabad weeks after the PTI-led government approved the deal with the real estate tycoon.

One year trial

The accountability watchdog arrested the PTI founder on November 13 last year in connection with the said case. The NAB then interrogated Khan and Bushra for 17 days in Adiala jail.

The trial began after the referral was filed with the NAB on December 1, 2023. On February 27, 2024, charges were officially filed against the couple.

Notable witnesses against the PTI founder included his former cabinet member Pervez Khattak, former federal minister Zubaida Jalal, former principal secretary Azam Khan and chief financial officer of Al-Qadir University.

The court also declared six co-accused, including Zulfi Bukhari, Farhat Shahzadi, Mirza Shahzad Akbar and Zia-ul-Mustafa Nasim, absconders, ordering freezing of their assets and bank accounts.

During the proceedings, the Islamabad High Court granted bail to the disqualified Prime Minister under the 190 million benchmark, while the trial court approved pre-arrest bail of Bushra.

The PTI founding president submitted a list of 16 witnesses to the court, but the request for summons was rejected.

During the case, four judges were replaced by Justice Muhammad Bashir, Justice Nasir Javed Rana, Justice Muhammad Ali Warraich and then again Justice Rana who was presiding over the hearings.

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