ISLAMABAD: Investigators from Pakistan’s anti-graft watchdog on Tuesday grilled former prime minister Imran Khan for more than four hours in the Al-Qadir Trust land bribe case over his alleged misuse of authority.
Khan is accused of getting undue benefit from a Pakistani property tycoon, Malik Riaz Hussain, after granting him a settlement of £190 million seized by the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency as part of a deal.
The Al-Qadir Trust, owned by Khan and his third wife Bushra Bibi, runs a university outside Islamabad devoted to spirituality and Islamic teachings. The project is inspired by Khan’s wife, who is as a spiritual leader.
The government of PM Shehbaz Sharif says the trust was a front for Khan to receive valuable lands as a bribe from the real estate developer. The Al-Qadir Trust has nearly 60 acres of land worth Rs7 billion ($24.7 million) and another tract in Islamabad close to Khan’s hilltop home. The 60-acre parcel is the official site of the university, but quit a little has been built there.
“It is a propaganda stunt,” Khan’s lawyer Babar Awan told media outside the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) office in Islamabad. “The new NAB law says unless somebody gets the ill-gotten money, then action can be initiated against him.”
He said the welfare university was “working well,” adding: “There is no case. This is persecution.”
Heavy contingents of police, and Rangers and Frontier Constabulary (FC) paramilitary forces were deployed outside the NAB office on the occasion of Khan’s appearance. His security staff and wife stayed outside the NAB office while he was being questioned inside about the corruption charges.
Khan was arrested by NAB authorities in the same case earlier this month that led to violent protests by his supporters in parts of Pakistan. The country’s top court later declared his arrest “illegal” and ordered his release.
The violence that targeted military installations, government buildings and law enforcement has since prompted a crackdown by authorities on Khan’s party. The ex-premier claims that more than 7,000 of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party’s members and supporters have been detained since the May 9 protests.
Khan, who has been agitating for snap elections ever since he was ousted in a no-trust vote last year, has accused the government of attempting to “crush” his party through the clampdown ahead of the upcoming general elections. The government denies it.
The top civilian and military leadership of Pakistan has announced trying all those involved in the riots under the Army Act, Anti-Terrorism Act and the Pakistan Penal Code, but Khan’s lawyer said the cases against Khan aides and supporters were fabricated.
“There is no genuine case against any of the jailed PTI workers,” Awan said. “We fight for democracy, for rule of the law, for upholding the constitution in this country. Come what may, mark my words, election is around the corner.”
