ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s anti-graft watchdog has summoned former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, on June 7 for allegedly aiding and abetting an illegal transfer of £190 million to a real estate tycoon for personal gains in the Al-Qadir Trust land bribe case.
Khan and his wife are accused of receiving benefits from Pakistani property tycoon Malik Riaz Hussain by granting him a settlement of £190 million seized by the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency as part of a deal relating to the transfer of ill-gotten money.
The Al-Qadir Trust, owned by Khan and his third wife Bushra Bibi, runs a university outside Islamabad that is 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.
The anti-graft watchdog in its notices, seen by Arab News, to Khan and his wife said that these funds were “dishonestly and maliciously” adjusted against liability of the property tycoon’s Bahria Town Limited, Karachi, instead of their repatriation from the UK to the state of Pakistan.
“In return to this favor illegally and dishonestly, BTL [Bahria Town Limited] gave material and monetary benefits in shape of land measuring 458 kanals, Rs285 million, building and other kinds disguised under the garb of donations to Al Qadir University Project Trust in which you and your wife Bushra Khan are trustees,” the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) call-up notices read.
The watchdog has summoned Khan’s wife to record her statement and join the investigation and asked to bring documents, including details of donors in the Al-Qadir University project, land, building, cash, expenditures and bank account. The former prime minister has been summoned by the combined investigation team (CIT) of the anti-graft watchdog.
On May 23, NAB investigators grilled Khan for more than four hours in the case at its office in Islamabad.
Last week, an accountability court granted bail to ex-premier Khan in the corruption case till June 19, while NAB officials informed the court that Bushra Bibi’s arrest was not required in the case but she should cooperate with the anti-graft body whenever summoned.
Khan, who was ousted in a parliamentary no-trust vote, is currently embroiled in a string of court cases against him, including terrorism charges raised by police. The former premier maintains the charges were trumped-up.
Since his ouster, Khan has been calling for snap elections and has lately accused the government and military of initiating a crackdown on his supporters to “crush” his party ahead of the nationwide polls this year.
The government denies the accusations and says the crackdown was targeted at rioters who destroyed military installations, including setting fire to the residence of a general, and other property following Khan’s arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case on May 9.
