RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan concluded his nearly four-hour investigation at the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) office in Rawalpindi on Tuesday pertaining to the Al-Qadir Trust case.
The case alleges that the former prime minister and his wife, Bushra Bibi, acquired billions of rupees and extensive land from Bahria Town Ltd in exchange for legalizing Rs50 billion, which was subsequently repatriated to Pakistan by the UK during the PTI government’s tenure.
Imran Khan, accompanied by his wife Bushra Bibi, arrived at the NAB office shortly after 12 pm, and security in the vicinity was tightened in anticipation of their visit. While Imran Khan underwent questioning inside the accountability watchdog’s office, his wife waited outside in the former premier’s bullet-proof vehicle.
During the investigation, the NAB’s Combined Investigation Team (CIT) presented a questionnaire to the PTI chairman regarding the case.
The questionnaire seeks answers to various queries, including the reasons behind preparing a summary for the approval of the return of illegal money from the UK in December 2019, the justification for surrendering the return of illegal money, and the rationale behind accepting land and monetary benefits from the suspects.
Imran Khan’s Arrest in Al-Qadir Trust Case
Imran Khan’s arrest by paramilitary forces on May 9 in connection with the case had led to violent protests across the country. He immediately approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for release, but the court initially deemed the arrest legal. However, following a subsequent Supreme Court ruling declaring the arrest unlawful, he was released.
Meanwhile, Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, was granted bail until May 31 in the same case by an accountability court earlier today.
In response to the ongoing NAB investigation, PTI lawyer Babar Awan labeled the Al-Qadir Trust case a “propaganda stunt.” He emphasized that the new NAB law only allows action to be taken against individuals who personally possess ill-gotten money.
نیب کے آفس کے باہر ڈاکٹر بابر اعوان بات چیت کرتے ہوئے : pic.twitter.com/JSNoL410it
— PTI (@PTIofficial) May 23, 2023
Awan further claimed that PTI workers across the country were being unjustly imprisoned in fabricated cases and reiterated the party’s commitment to fighting for democracy, the rule of law, and upholding the Constitution.
As the investigation continues, questions surrounding the case persist, and PTI leaders assert that there is no basis for the allegations. The government’s response to the NAB investigation and calls for an apology to Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi remain topics of interest in the ongoing proceedings.
