Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and ex-prime minister Imran Khan had not appeared before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). He had to appear before court in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust investigation.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) cited the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) judgement from May 12 when it granted Imran bail in the case. The court has asked him to cooperate with NAB in its investigation. A call-up notice delivered to the PTI head two days ago.
On May 9, paramilitary Rangers, acting on a warrant from NAB. Rangers detained Imran Khan at the IHC, sparking huge protests and acts of destruction and burning.
The PTI challenged the arrest in the Supreme Court, and on May 11. A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court ruled that the arrest was unconstitutional. The bench granted the PTI head bail hearings before the IHC in several matters, including the NAB case.
NAB demanded that Imran personally attend at the anti-graft watchdog’s Rawalpindi headquarters today at 10 am. NAB also asked him to appear with all relevant documents. Mirza Shahzad Akbar, Imran’s accountability aide, was also asked to appear before NAB in Rawalpindi on the 22nd of May.
Imran had to provide documents including British National Crime Agency (NCA) applications, copies of court orders, documents of funds freezing orders, related parties, agreements between the Government of Pakistan and the NCA, details of mutual contacts, Al-Qadir University registration, acquisition of land, funds, details of all contracts, and donations.
Imran responded in writing to the summons orders, stating that he is unable to leave Lahore until May 22 since the IHC has granted him pre-arrest release in multiple cases.
The PTI head further demanded the inquiry report, saying that NAB’s move to switch the investigation to an inquiry was unconstitutional and against NAB’s own rules.
Government’s Claim about Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi
The government specifically claims that Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, got land from a real estate magnate through the Al-Qadir Trust that was worth millions of dollars as a bribe. Bushra and Imran founded the trust, a non-governmental welfare organisation, in 2018 when Imran was prime minister. The charity manages a spiritual and Islamic studies university outside of Islamabad.
At a news conference on May 9, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah claimed that Imran Khan used the trust as a sham to acquire prime real estate from a corrupt developer.
The minister revealed that the trust owns over 60 acres of land in Lahore worth Rs7 billion, as well as a significant plot of land in Islamabad near Imran Khan’s hilltop residence. The construction has been slow on the 60-acre plot in the Jhelum area of Punjab.
Minister of Information Marriyum Aurangzeb also questioned funding for the organization’s ongoing operations. “The trust received Rs180 million for operational expenses, but records showed only Rs8.52 million on the books,” she claimed.
The government claims the 190 million pounds that Britain returned to Pakistan. It happened in 2019 after the real estate tycoon forfeited cash. He also gave up properties to resolve a British investigation.
Reports indicated that the money wasn’t put into the Pakistani treasury. Instead, Khan used this money to settle fines that court had imposed against a real estate developer. The real estate developer is accused of purchasing government land in Karachi at a discount.
