The Islamabad High Court has reserved its decision on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder’s bail plea in the 'National Crime Agency £190m Scandal' formerly known as Al-Qadir Trust case, reported 24NewsHJD TV channel on Tuesday.
A two-member bench, comprising of IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, reserved the verdict after the completion of arguments.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had launched an investigation against Imran Khan and his wife and others for the alleged gain of hundreds of canals of land in the name of Al Qadir University Trust, which reportedly caused the national exchequer loss of 190 million pounds.
In a significant development, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has concluded its deliberations on the bail application of PTI founder Imran Khan in connection with the £190 million settlement case and reserved the decision.
As per the charges, the former prime minister and others accused allegedly adjusted Rs50 billion — 190 million pounds at the time — sent by Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to the government.
In December 2023, the NAB had filed a corruption reference against Imran and seven others, including his wife, in connection with the Al-Qadir University.
The PTI chief registered the Trust for Al-Qadir University Project on Dec 26, 2019
In the court, Amjad Parvez, the NAB’s special prosecutor, when presenting his arguments said that the money should have come to the Government of Pakistan.
In its order, the Supreme Court mentioned that the money belonged to the state of Pakistan.
“The amount declared by the Supreme Court was wrongly sent to its account.”
Meanwhile, he added, the Asset Recovery Unit told the prime minister that it was their success in securing this money.
“According to the documents, the money could not have been transferred without the permission of the National Crime Agency,” Amjad Pervez said.
Addressing the NAB special prosecutor, the IHC chief justice asked if the money he referred to was proceeds of crime.
Justice Jahangiri, addressing Pervez, remarked: “You don't have any documentation of this, it's all verbal talk. You were earlier asked if you have the order of freezing or de-freezing [the accounts]. You said you don't have any of those documents.”
The NAB lawyer was questioned about evidence of out-of-court settlements by both the judges.
“What will you say about the money transferred before the note given to the prime minister?” asked Justice Jahangiri.
“This money was transferred after the confidentiality deed,” replied the NAB prosecutor, adding that the PTI founder was the head of the Assets Recovery Unit.
It is not written in the confidentiality deed that the money will be deposited in the Supreme Court's account, remarked Justice Jahangiri.
“This confidentiality deed was a huge fraud,” Amjad Pervez responded.
The IHC judge then asked how was the deed related to the PTI founder.
A public servant cannot accept a gift from a person whose case is pending with him, said NAB counsel.
He also added that “458 kanals of land were purchased and transferred to the name of Zulfi Bukhari.”
The judge asked who transferred the land. “The land was bought from private people and transferred in the name of Zulfi Bukhari. This happened during Asset Recovery Unit's correspondence with NCA,” the prosecutor said.
He added that the Al-Qadir Trust did not exist when the land was transferred.
The chief justice asked when was the trust registered, responding to which the NAB lawyer said that the story of the trust is “very interesting”.
“The whole story is interesting, what is not interesting,” said Justice Jahangir.
The land was transferred while the East Recovery Unit was corresponding with The National Security Agency (NSA), Pervez.
Reporter: Ehtasham Kiyani