ISLAMABAD — Recent developments have emerged from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) following its significant raid on Bahria Town’s offices. Sources within the NAB have revealed that crucial evidence related to several high-profile cases, including the £190 million National Crime Agency (NCA) settlement scam, has been seized.
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| NAB seizes critical evidence in £190m NCA scam during Bahria Town raid. Updates on high-profile investigations and legal proceedings in Islamabad. |
Valuable Evidence Collected
According to sources close to the investigation, the evidence gathered during the raid is highly significant. It encompasses various aspects pertinent to multiple cases, including the prominent £190 million NCA settlement case involving former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The NAB is currently in the process of thoroughly assessing and cross-checking the documentary evidence to determine its relevance and implications in the ongoing investigations.
Current Status of the Evidence
The NAB is meticulously evaluating the collected documents, but no decision has been made regarding the presentation of this evidence in the ongoing Al-Qadir Trust reference trial. This case, also referred to as the £190 million NCA corruption reference, involves allegations against Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, and others. Despite the new evidence, the prosecution feels confident about the existing evidence already submitted to the Accountability Court.
Proceedings in Accountability Court
The Accountability Court is actively recording witness testimonies in the Al-Qadir Trust case, which is being heard at Adiala Jail, where Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi are currently held. On Wednesday, former Defence Minister Pervez Khattak testified, revealing that former accountability czar Shahzad Akbar had informed the cabinet about a substantial sum of money allegedly illegally transferred out of Pakistan, which was subsequently seized in Britain.
Khattak disclosed that the documents concerning the £190 million transfer by the NCA to Pakistan were presented to the Imran Khan cabinet in a sealed envelope, seeking cabinet approval as an additional agenda item.
Recent Developments
Approximately 31 witnesses have already testified, with their cross-examinations also completed. A few weeks ago, NAB teams conducted a comprehensive raid on offices in Rawalpindi-Islamabad in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust University case and the £190 million NCA settlement scam. During the operation, NAB, supported by Punjab police and elite forces, examined and seized records and documents from the offices, which were subsequently sealed. The staff of the housing society was questioned regarding the records related to both the Al-Qadir Trust University and the NCA scam.
Reactions and Next Steps
In response to the raid, Bahria Town Chairman Malik Riaz Hussain took to ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), expressing his determination to endure the legal challenges but stating he would not become an “approver” in the case.
As the NAB continues to sift through the newly acquired evidence, the legal and political ramifications of these developments are anticipated to unfold in the coming weeks. The focus will remain on whether the fresh evidence will influence the ongoing trial and investigations into the alleged corruption and misconduct.
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