RAWALPINDI:(Web Desk) Incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, who was recently released on bail, have been presented with a 14-page questionnaire in the £190 million settlement case.
The questionnaire, containing 79 questions related to the reference, was provided for their final statements under Section 342 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1898. Their counsel, Salman Safdar, received the questionnaire in the presence of both accused during the last hearing. The couple was directed to submit their responses to the court by November 11 (tomorrow).
The court, through the questionnaire asked the PTI founder whether he and his associates illegally obtained “monetary benefits,” including land measuring 458 kanals, in exchange for facilitating the “illegal and dishonest transfer/adjustment of £171.159 million out of £190 million, meant for the State of Pakistan.”
Citing evidence, the court mentioned that co-accused Shahzad Akbar, former special assistant on accountability, “in connivance and with the active knowledge” of Imran Khan, maliciously floated a note dated December 2, 2019, to the deposed prime minister.
Seeking his response, the court stated: “The note contained misrepresented information, implying that funds frozen in the UK were to be surrendered to the State of Pakistan, mischaracterizing a land purchase agreement as a fine, and knowingly misrepresented that the Supreme Court account was being operated for the benefit of the State of Pakistan.”
Furthermore, the accountability court noted, “It is in the evidence that the jailed politician, being prime minister, dishonestly instructed for placing the note as additional agenda without prior circulation in violation of the Rules of Business, 1973. This was despite the fact that your co-accused Mirza Shahzad Akbar, with your active connivance and under your influence, had already dishonestly and for ulterior motives signed and submitted the confidential deed to the National Crime Agency UK on November 11, 2019.”
The court also sought Khan’s response regarding the December 3 cabinet meeting, during which the note was presented and Imran insisted on approving paragraph 10 of the note without allowing any discussion on the additional agenda.
“Upon your insistence and under your influence, the said additional agenda was approved without deliberation. What do you say about it?” the court asked.
In the November 7 hearing, lawyers for the former first couple completed the cross-examination of the last and 35th witness at Adiala Jail, bringing the reference to its final stage.
After cross-examining a total of 35 witnesses, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) lawyers stated that they did not wish to present any further evidence.
The cross-examination of the last witness began on July 30 and continued over 20 hearings spanning three months. Additionally, Bushra Bibi’s lawyer, Usman Gul, completed the cross-examination in 14 hearings.
**What is the £190 million case?**
The charges allege that Imran Khan and other accused adjusted Rs50 billion (£190 million at the time) sent by Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to the Pakistani government as part of an agreement with a property tycoon.
Subsequently, the then-prime minister secured approval for the settlement with the UK crime agency from his cabinet on December 3, 2019, without disclosing the details of the confidential agreement. It was decided that the money would be submitted to the Supreme Court on behalf of the tycoon.
According to NAB officials, the PTI founder and his wife obtained land worth billions of rupees from the property tycoon to build an educational institute, in return for striking a deal to provide legal cover for the tycoon’s black money received from the UK crime agency.