Pakistan’s Former Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested from the Islamabad High Court’s premises earlier today where he was present for two hearings on Tuesday afternoon.
Soon after the arrest, Islamabad police released a statement quoting Inspector General of Police Akbar Nasir as saying that Imran had been arrested in the case which alleges that the PTI chief and his wife obtained billions of rupees from a real estate firm for legalizing a laundered amount of Rs50 billion that was identified and returned to the country by the UK during the previous PTI government.
Providing further details during a press conference in Islamabad, Sanaullah said Imran was arrested by officials of the National Accountability Bureau specifically in the Al-Qadir Trust case, adding that there were “dozens” of other cases with corruption inquiries in progress against the former premier.
The interior minister said a laundered amount of 190 million pounds or around Rs70 billion belonging to a “property tycoon” was caught in the United Kingdom. According to the law, this amount rightfully belonged to the people of Pakistan,” he added, further saying that it was to be deposited in the national treasury and the UK government had contacted the Pakistani government regarding the amount’s return.
Meanwhile, Sanaullah alleged that former accountability czar Mirza Shehzad Akbar had gotten involved, and “an agreement was then realized, as a result of which an Al-Qadir Trust was made”.
The interior minister said that subsequently property of 240 kanals in Bani Gala and another 458-kanal property was registered in the trust’s name. Sanaullah said he had previously provided details of the properties and had challenged the PTI chief to answer that “Al-Qadir trust was made by you to hide this corruption and bribery.”
The interior minister said Imran and his wife Bushra Bibi were the only two trustees in the matter.
The 240 kanals in Bani Gala are registered on the name of Farah Gogi. The total worth of this property is around Rs5-7bn, he said, alleging that Akbar had also taken Rs2bn for his “services”. Instead of bringing that Rs70bn amount in the national treasury, it was adjusted in the Supreme Court account of the property tycoon whose case was under trial in the apex court. Meaning his amount was returned back to him, he added.
The interior minister rued that not even the Supreme Court had taken notice of the matter as to the source of the amount, who it belonged to, and why it was coming to Pakistan. Sanaullah said he challenged all PTI leaders wailing about Imran’s arrest to tell who Al-Qadir’s trustees were and provide a money trail for the property bought in the trust’s name.
