ISLAMABAD: An accountability court in Islamabad issued on Monday arrest warrants for ousted premier Imran Khan in two cases pertaining to the Toshakhana gifts repository and £190m settlement with UK’s National Crime Agency.
The National Accountability Court (NAB) had submitted a request for compliance with the arrest warrants. The court accepted the request and directed the superintendent of Adiala jail, where the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairperson is currently incarcerated in connection with the cypher case, to ensure the same under the law.
NAB deputy prosecutor Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi, prosecutor Irfan Bhola, investigation officers Mohsin, Waqarul Hasan, Mian Umar Nadeem and others appeared before the court of accountability judge Muhammad Bashir.
The court inquired about the high court’s orders in this case.
To this, the NAB lawyer replied that the case is yet pending before the high court, which has issued neither suspension order nor a stay order. Hence, arrest warrants of Imran should be issued and the implemented, he said.
The NAB prosecutor further said that the anti-graft watchdog will produce the former premier before the accountability court after arresting him and seek physical remand. The law permits 24-hour custody, said the prosecutor, adding that if further custody is required this court would be approached.
The warrants need to be implemented, then the case will proceed further, he added.
The court then inquired about the special court formed under the Official Secrets Act’s opinion on the matter and was informed that permission has been granted by the special court for implementation of warrants.
NAB maintained that arrest of the PTI chief was needed to complete investigation in the cases.
The court accepted NAB’s request and issued directives to the jail superintendent to ensure compliance on the same.
Separately, Bushra Bibi appeared before NAB in Islamabad responding to summons in the case pertaining to £190m settlement with UK’s National Crime Agency.
The NAB investigation team questioned the former premier’s wife and gave her a questionnaire containing 11 questions.
According to the charges, the deposed premier and others allegedly adjusted Rs50 billion — £190 million at the time — sent by Britain’s NCA to the Pakistani government.
They also face charges of receiving undue benefits in the form of over 458 kanals of land at Mouza Bakrala in Sohawa to set up the Al-Qadir University.
Later, then prime minister Imran acquired approval of the settlement with the Britain’s 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 SC on behalf of the tycoon.
On May 9, Imran was arrested in connection with the case from the premises of the Islamabad High Court by dozens of Rangers personnel, triggering countrywide protests.
However, on May 11, the SC came to his rescue, declaring that his arrest was “illegal” and ordered his release.
On May 12, the IHC stopped the authorities from arresting the PTI chairman in any case, including undisclosed ones, filed against him anywhere in the country till May 15.
It also granted the PTI chief interim bail for two weeks in the Al-Qadir Trust case.
Imran was later arrested in the Toshakhana case and then remanded in judicial custody in Adiala jail in the cypher case.
