The Al-Qadir Trust case is a legal case involving Imran Khan, the leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) political party and a former prime minister, is a party participant in the ongoing legal dispute. The case centres on accusations of corruption and abuse of authority in relation to a settlement between the PTI administration and real estate mogul, Malik Riaz, which is said to have cost the national exchequer £190 million. The case is currently under investigation by the National Accountability Bureau.[1]

Background

Property tycoon Malik Riaz had assets worth £190 million seized by the National Crime Agency (NCA) of the United Kingdom during the PTI administration. The assets would be transferred to the Pakistani government, according to the NCA. The agreement with the real estate tycoon was regarded as a civil matter and did not indicate guilt.[2]

On 3 December 2019, then Prime Minister Imran Khan received approval from his cabinet for the settlement with the UK crime agency without revealing the specifics of the private accord. According to the arrangement, the money would be presented to the Supreme Court on Malik Riaz's behalf.[3][4]

In the weeks that followed the decision, Islamabad saw the founding of the Al-Qadir Trust. Members of the trust have been named as PTI leaders Zulfi Bukhari, Babar Awan, Bushra Bibi, and her close friend Farah Khan. Malik Riaz allegedly gave up the land for the construction of an educational institution in exchange for legal protection for the monies he had.[5][6]

Investigation and Charges

The Al-Qadir Trust case was the subject of an investigation by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), which focused on claims of the abuse of authority in the process of retrieving monies from the UK crime agency. After significant evidence surfaced, the investigation subsequently developed into a full-fledged inquiry.[7]

The case has implicated Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi, Barrister Shahzad Akbar, and Malik Riaz as suspects. Allegations against them include accepting unauthorised advantages in the form of land for the construction of Al-Qadir University, modifying cash supplied by the NCA to the Pakistani government, and allegedly providing legal protection for the money of the property tycoon.[8]

On 9 May 2023, Rangers officers detained Imran Khan outside the Islamabad High Court, where he had gone to request bail in a number of cases brought against him, including the Al-Qadir Trust case. On 11 May, though, the Supreme Court ruled that his arrest was unlawful and ordered his release.[9]

Imran Khan was granted interim release by the Islamabad High Court in the Al-Qadir Trust case for a period of two weeks, and the court also prohibited arresting him in any other case until 15 May.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "What is the story behind the Al-Qadir trust case that Imran Khan has been arrested for?". Pakistan Today. 9 May 2023. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  2. ↑ Neate, Rupert; Jolly, Jasper (3 December 2019). "Pakistani tycoon agrees to hand over £190m to UK authorities". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  3. ↑ "Al-Qadir Trust: All you need to know about corruption case against Imran Khan". Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  4. ↑ "NAB again summons Imran Khan in £190m settlement case". 20 May 2023. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  5. ↑ "Imran Khan to join NAB investigation in Al-Qadir Trust case today". 23 May 2023. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  6. ↑ "£190m graft case: Imran Khan's name added to Exit Control List". Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  7. ↑ "Imran Khan gets NAB questionnaire in Al-Qadir Trust case". 11 May 2023. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  8. ↑ "Court bars NAB from arresting Bushra Bibi in Al-Qadir Trust case". 23 May 2023. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  9. ↑ "Imran gets relief by courts in Al-Qadir Trust case". 31 May 2023. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  10. ↑ "Imran Khan to join NAB probe in Al-Qadir Trust case on May 23". Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
    This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.