ISLAMABAD: An accountability court in the federal capital on Tuesday ordered a freeze on all assets and bank accounts of ‘absconding’ Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Shehzad Akbar and Zulfiqar Bukhari in the £190 million case.
Presiding over proceedings in the Toshakhana and £190 million references on Tuesday, Judge Muhammad Bashir also issued the same order for other accused in the case including Farah Gogi, lawyer Zia Mustafa, and other party leaders.
The court also ordered authorities to seize all vehicles registered in the name of the accused.
During the hearing of the case on Monday, the accountability court issued permanent arrest warrants for all accused.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) also submitted the asset particulars of the six individuals accused in the £190 million scam case involving former prime minister Imran Khan and others.
The case revolves around allegations of corruption and abuse of authority linked to a financial settlement during the PTI’s tenure, which reportedly incurred a £190 million loss to the national exchequer.
NAB launched an inquiry into the scandal earlier this year. The inquiry transitioned into an investigation on April 30, leading to Imran Khan’s sudden arrest at the Islamabad High Court premises on May 9.
This arrest triggered widespread protests nationwide. Subsequently, the Supreme Court declared Imran’s arrest on May 9 as illegal.
On December 1, NAB filed a corruption reference against the former prime minister, his wife, and other suspects in an Islamabad accountability court.
The reference names a total of eight individuals, including Farhat Shahzadi aka Farah Gogi, PTI leader Zulfi Bukhari, Shahzad Akbar, and Barrister Ziaul Mustafa Naseem.
