RAWALPINDI: In a major development, the high-profile £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case against former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi has entered its “final phase” as the couple filed their statement under Section 342 of the Penal Code. Recorded. Monday Procedure Code (CRPC).
Accountability Court judge Nasir Javed Rana heard the corruption case against the former prime minister in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail on Monday.
The 71-year-old cricketer-turned-politician has been behind bars since August last year after being convicted in Case-1 – one of dozens of cases filed against the former prime minister since he was ousted from power in April 2022. .
At the start of today’s hearing, the PTI founder was produced in the court while the former first lady was also present in the courtroom barring about 10 hearings.
The judge suspended the non-bailable warrant for the former first lady’s arrest after she appeared in court.
Khan’s wife told the judge that she did not want to present any witness in her favor before the court.
Meanwhile, the court adjourned the hearing of the case till December 12.
During the previous hearing, Khan and his spouse, who were recently released on bail, were given a 14-page questionnaire in the settlement case.
The questionnaire, containing 79 questions on the reference, was provided for their final statements under Section 342 of the Cr.P.C., 1898.
In the questionnaire – a copy of which is available with Geo News, the court asked the PTI founder whether he and his associates illegally obtained “financial benefits” – including 458 kanals of land. is – and in turn, facilitated “illegal and dishonest”. Transfer/adjustment of £171.159 million out of £190 million to the State of Pakistan.”
Citing evidence, the court said that co-accused Shehzad Akbar – a former Special Assistant on Accountability – issued a note to the ousted prime minister on December 2, 2019, with Khan’s “firm and active knowledge” of corruption.
Seeking his reply, the court said: “The note contained misrepresented information, indicating that the funds frozen in the UK were to be handed over to the State of Pakistan, sanctioning the land purchase agreement. misrepresented and deliberately misrepresented that the Supreme Court account was being operated for the benefit of the State of Pakistan.
Further, the accountability court said, “It is in evidence that the jailed politician, being the Prime Minister, violated the Business Rules, 1973 by keeping the notes as an additional agenda item without any prior circulation.” of Imani, despite the fact that your accomplice Mirza Shahzad Akbar had already been signed for dishonest and ulterior motives with your active connivance and under your influence.11 November 2019 submitted a secret deed to the National Crime Agency UK.
What is the £190 million case?
According to the charges in the case, Imran and the other accused allegedly diverted 50 billion rupees – £190 million at the time – to the Pakistani government from Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) in a deal with a property tycoon. adjusted to
After that, the then prime minister got his cabinet to approve the settlement with the UK Crime Agency on 3 December 2019, without disclosing details of the secret deal.
It was decided that the money would be deposited in the Supreme Court on behalf of the tycoon.
According to NAB officials, the PTI founder and his wife acquired land worth billions of rupees from a property tycoon to build an educational institution, in return for providing legal protection to the property tycoon’s UK crime-related black money. An agreement was made. Agency