RAWALPINDI: Imran Khan, the imprisoned founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and his wife Bushra Bibi, who was recently granted bail, have been presented with a 14-page questionnaire in the £190 million settlement case.
The questionnaire, containing 79 questions regarding the reference, was given to them for their final statements under Section 342 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1898.
Their lawyer, Salman Safdar, received the document in the presence of both accused during the last hearing. The couple has been directed to submit their responses by November 11 (tomorrow).
According to the questionnaire, a copy of which is available with Geo News, the court inquired whether the PTI leader and his associates had illegally obtained “monetary benefits” — including land measuring 458 kanals — and, in return, facilitated the “illegal and dishonest transfer/adjustment of £171.159 million out of the £190 million intended for the State of Pakistan.”
The court, citing evidence, referred to co-accused Shahzad Akbar — the former special assistant on accountability — who, in collaboration with Imran, allegedly sent a note on December 2, 2019, to the deposed prime minister. The court sought his response on this, stating that the note contained false information, suggesting that funds frozen in the UK were to be surrendered to Pakistan, misrepresenting the land purchase agreement as a fine and inaccurately claiming that the Supreme Court account was operating for the benefit of Pakistan.
The court further noted that as prime minister, Imran Khan dishonestly instructed the note to be placed as an additional agenda in violation of rules, without prior circulation, despite the fact that his co-accused, Mirza Shahzad Akbar, had already submitted a confidential deed to the National Crime Agency (NCA) UK on November 11, 2019.
The court also sought Imran Khan’s response regarding a December 3 cabinet meeting where the note was presented, and he insisted on approving paragraph 10 of the note without discussion.
The cross-examination of the 35th and final witness in the case took place on November 7 at Adiala jail, bringing the reference closer to conclusion. The NAB lawyers confirmed they would not present further evidence after cross-examining 35 witnesses. Bushra Bibi’s lawyer, Usman Gul, completed the cross-examination in 14 hearings.
What is the £190 million case?
The case charges Imran Khan and other accused of facilitating the adjustment of Rs50 billion (equivalent to £190 million) sent by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to the Pakistani government as part of a settlement with a property tycoon. The settlement was approved by the prime minister’s cabinet on December 3, 2019, without disclosing the details of the confidential agreement. The money was meant to be submitted to the Supreme Court on behalf of the tycoon. NAB officials allege that Imran and Bushra Bibi obtained land worth billions of rupees from the tycoon to build an educational institution, in return for providing legal cover for the tycoon’s black money from the UK crime agency.
