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Tag: NAB

  • Court verdict will not affect Nawaz’s return to Pakistan, says Ata Tarar

    Court verdict will not affect Nawaz’s return to Pakistan, says Ata Tarar

    Attaullah Tarar, deputy secretary general of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), has stated that the Supreme Court’s (SC) ruling on the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) amendments will not have an impact on party head Nawaz Sharif’s planned return to Pakistan on October 21.

    No case, said Tarar during press conference “is a hindrance in his way of returning to Pakistan,” as there is overwhelming evidence that former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is an innocent.

    “Nawaz’s return date remains the same. The date has been announced. He is coming back on the same date,” Tarrar insisted.

    He also said that the former prime minister didn’t disobey any law when it came to Toshakhana gifts. On the other hand, chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan sold state gifts and made profit out of them, Tarar mentioned.

    Following the Supreme Court’s decision in the NAB law amendments case on Friday, it is anticipated that some 2,000 NAB cases, including those at the reference, complaint verification, inquiry, and investigation levels, will be reinstated.

    According to the report, Asif Ali Zardari, a former president, and six former prime ministers—Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Shaukat Aziz, Yusuf Raza Gilani, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, and Shehbaz Sharif—are among suspects in cases that stand to be reinstated.

  • Supreme Court orders restoration of corruption cases against politicians

    Supreme Court orders restoration of corruption cases against politicians

    The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday struck down recent amendments made to the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO), 1999, during the tenure of the previous Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)-led government. A three-member SC bench headed by outgoing Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, and comprising of Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Ijazul Ahsan, conducted 53 hearings on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s petition against the changes made to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Ordinance under the National Accountability (Second Amendment) Act 2022.

    Today’s 2-1 majority verdict has resulted in the restoration of corruption cases against public office holders, which were closed down following the NAB amendments. The ruling specifically reinstated the NAB clause pertaining to the Service of Pakistan.

    In June 2022, former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan approached the top court to challenge the amendments to the NAB laws, contending that they will “virtually eliminate any white-collar crime committed by a public office holder”.

    On September 5, the SC reserved its verdict in the case. “My retirement is near, [we] will give a decision before retirement. We will soon announce a short and sweet verdict of the case,” said CJ Bandial.

    According to today’s SC verdict, the petition by PTI Chairman against NAB amendments was declared admissible by the majority decision, restoring all closed inquiries filed with the anti-corruption body. The top court has ordered restoring all graft cases worth less than Rs500 million that were closed down after the amendments.

    According to The Express Tribune, former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif was a major beneficiary of the amendments. Other beneficiaries include former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, former President Asif Ali Zardari, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Maryam Nawaz, Faryal Talpur, Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Asif, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Rana Sanaullah, Javed Lateef, Makhdoom Khosro Bakhtiar, Amir Mehmood Kayani, Akram Durani , Saleem Mandiwala, Noor Alam Khan, Nawab Aslam Riasani, Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, Nawab Sanaullah Zehri, Barjees Tahir, Nawab Ali Wasan, Sharjeel Memon, Anwarul Haq Kakar, Liaqat Jatoi, Amir Maqam, Goram Bugti, Jaffer Mandokhel and G-B Governor Syed Mehdi Shah.

  • NAB grills Bushra Bibi for over two and a half hours

    NAB grills Bushra Bibi for over two and a half hours

    The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) grilled former First Lady, Bushra Bibi, for over two and a half hours during the investigation of the Toshakhana case.

    Bushra Bibi has been accused of keeping a bracelet, earrings, a chain, a pendant and two rings from state gifts while her husband Imran Khan was the Prime Minister. She has also been charged with keeping a watch and gold and diamond jewellery during the same time period, not getting their value assessed fairly or submitting them to the Toshakhana.

    Bushra Bibi appeared before NAB Rawalpindi office where a team questioned her for over two and a half hours.

    Bushra Bibi is currently on bail in the Toshakhana case, after Judge Abul Hasnat of an accountability court granted her bail in the Toshakhana case till September 12, in exchange of surety bonds worth Rs5 lacs.

  • Azam Khan appears before NAB in £190 million case

    Azam Khan appears before NAB in £190 million case

    Former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s former principal secretary Azam Khan appeared before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) today (July 21) in Rawalpindi in a case related to a settlement worth £190 million between property tycoon Malik Riaz and Imran Khan, when the latter was in power. NAB had issued a notice to Azam Khan to appear today, Geo News has reported.

    Azam Khan recorded his statement and answered the questions asked by NAB’s joint investigation team (JIT). Azam Khan confirmed that he is an eyewitness to all that transpired and said that everything, including the dubious transaction, took place under the instructions of former PM Imran Khan. Azam revealed that former federal minister Shehzad Akbar also played a role in the £190 million settlement.

    Earlier on Wednesday, Azam Khan had recorded a statement before a magistrate that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief’s “cypher drama” was a pre-planned conspiracy.

  • President allows NAB to secure 30-day physical remand of suspects, night before Imran Khan’s NAB appearance

    President allows NAB to secure 30-day physical remand of suspects, night before Imran Khan’s NAB appearance

    Acting president and Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani on Monday night signed the National Accountability Bureau (NA) Amendment Ordinance 2023, which allows the accountability watchdog to secure a 30-day physical remand of a suspect, as opposed to the existing duration of 14 days

    After the revisions, the NAB chairman has been given authority to issue arrest warrants for individuals implicated in cases where cooperation during the investigation is insufficient.

    Sanjrani has signed the ordinance upon the request of Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, “The prime minister’s advice at para 6 of the summary is approved. The National Accountability (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, is signed and promulgated.”

    It is pertinent to mention here that NAB Rawalpindi has summoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, and his wife, Bushra Bibi today (Tuesday), regarding two lseparate cases.

    Imran Khan will be appearing in the Toshakhana case, while Bushra Bibi has been summoned in relation to a £190 million National Crime Agency (NCA) UK settlement case.

  • Could not travel from Lahore to Islamabad on short notice, Bushra Bibi tells NAB

    Could not travel from Lahore to Islamabad on short notice, Bushra Bibi tells NAB

    Former First Lady and wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi, did not appear before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in Al-Qadir Trust case on Tuesday, stating that she is unable to travel from Lahore to Islamabad so often on short notice.

    NAB has already called in former Prime Minister Imran Khan in the same case on June 15. It is expected that Imran Khan and his wife both will appear before NAB on the same day.

    Sources within NAB told Dawn that Bushra Bibi sent a letter to Chairman of the bureau in which she said it is difficult for her to appear on Tuesday as she received a notice just three days ago.

    Earlier, Bushra Bibi in a statement submitted to NAB on June 7, said that she is not aware of any “wrongdoings” in the trust’s matters and deal between UK’s National Crime Agency and Malik Riaz, a property tycoon. She further added that she is not involved in the affairs of trust and donations.

    In the same letter Bushra Bibi requested NAB to shift her hearing to a day later, as her husband Imran Khan was also scheduled to appear before the Islamabad High Court and an anti-terrorism court on the same day.
    Bushra Bibi, in her letter also said that she observes strict purdah and that is why she would like to be accompanied by her husband when she travels to Islamabad.

  • Imran Khan asks NAB for his shaving kit left in police lines Islamabad

    Imran Khan asks NAB for his shaving kit left in police lines Islamabad

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has submitted a written response to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case.
    The PTI chairman was summoned today by NAB in connection with an investigation related to a £190m settlement from the UK at 10am today.

    In the written response, Imran said that it was not possible for him to appear before NAB Rawalpindi and join the investigation as he was in Lahore for obtaining bail in a multitude of cases.

    Imran said that the allegations made by NAB are “absolutely false, frivolous and concocted”.

    He said he was in the process of applying for, and obtaining, bail in a number of other legal cases and would not be available before his protective bail expired on May 22.

    Imran has also asked back for his shaving kit and the clothes that he left behind in Police Lines Islamabad. “Kindly note that although the inquiry report was provided to me during custody, I could not carry the said Inquiry report, or for that matter, my clothes and shaving kit, with me when I attended the court proceedings before the honourable Islamabad High Court on 12-05-2023,” read the document.

    “As such, I would request that before serving me a Call Up Notice and pursuant thereto recording my statement and requiring production of documents accordingly, a copy of the said Inquiry report (along with my clothes and shaving kit that have been left behind in the room where I stayed in Police Lines Islamabad) may be immediately forwarded to me at my address at Zaman Park, or, in the alternate I will instruct my legal counsel in Islamabad, Mr. Gohar Ali Khan, ASC to visit your office at your convenience, to collect the copy of the report of Inquiry I left behind while proceeding to attend the Court hearing on 12-05-2009.”

  • No one can arrest Imran till Monday, says Islamabad High Court

    No one can arrest Imran till Monday, says Islamabad High Court

    Islamabad High Court (IHC) has said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan can’t be arrested till Monday morning.

    Reportedly, Khan has been granted bail in all cases which were under the high court.

    As there is a possibility that Khan can be arrested again, he has decided not to step out of court without a written order.

    SC releases Imran but to be produced before Islamabad High Court tomorrow

    On Thursday, the top court declared Khan’s arrest “illegal” and ask for his immediate release from National Accountability Bureau (NAB) custody.

    The court also demanded that Khan should be produced before the court, then gave their verdict. The top court bench also directed Khan to present himself before IHC on Friday till then he can stay in Police Lines Guesthouse.

    Khan also made some statements, he alleged that he was hit with sticks and was abducted like a terrorist.

    He also said that he was under arrest and does not want unrest in the country. According to him, he was also unaware of the violent protests that were going on in support of him.

    After the SC verdict in Khan’s favour, PTI called off protests in various cities.

    Following are the remarks made by SC judges when they heard Khan’s plea against his arrest:

    “The NAB authorities and the ICT Police shall ensure foolproof security to the petitioner [Imran} until his production in the Islamabad High Court in this regard,” the court order stated.

    “Whilst the petitioner is in the Police Guest House, he shall be entitled to meet up to 10 guests. These persons shall be allowed to stay with the petitioner as long as desired by him”, court said.

    Before Khan’s appearance before the top court, Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said that NAB had committed “contempt of court”. “They should have taken permission from the court’s registrar before the arrest. Court staffers were also subjected to abuse,” he added.

    He emphasised that courts should be accessible to everyone for relief and that individuals should feel safe to approach the courts.

    “No one can be arrested from the Supreme Court, a high court or an accountability court,” the CJP noted

    Marriyum Aurangzeb says Supreme Court for providing ‘relief’ to Imran

    Federal Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb censured the Supreme Court for providing “relief” to Imran.

    “The SC is giving relief to a criminal, a terrorist, a gangster who leads armed groups,” said Aurangzeb.

    “If courts support armed groups, encourage them, then similar relief should be given to all people,” said Marriyum.

    “Real contempt of court happens when the country’s courts become shelters for armed groups and terrorists,” she added.

  • PTI leaders who have been arrested so far

    PTI leaders who have been arrested so far

    After Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s arrest from Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday, authorities have not spared his party members either.

    Following is the list of all leaders of the former ruling party who have been arrested so far:

    1- Asad Umar

    On Wednesday, PTI Secretary General Asad Umar was arrested from the premises of the IHC — the same court from where his chief was taken into custody.

    According to eyewitnesses, PTI lawyers fought with the police to prevent Umar’s arrest, but the law enforcers overpowered them and took the PTI leader away. He was booked in two cases registered against him and other PTI leaders following the protests that ensued after Khan’s arrest.

    2- Shah Mahmood Qureshi

    On Thursday morning, PTI senior Vice President Shah Mahmood Qureshi was arrested for “inciting violent protests” after Khan’s arrest.

    PTI also shared a video of Qureshi’s arrest. The party claimed that the ex-foreign minister had been taken to an undisclosed location.

    3- Fawad Chaudhry

    Chaudhry was finally apprehended by the police as he emerged from the Supreme Court building late on Wednesday night, where he had sought refuge for over 12 hours in an attempt to evade his impending arrest.

    4- Omar Cheema

    Former Punjab Governor Omar Sarfaraz Cheema was arrested on Wednesday during a raid at his house by the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Punjab.

    5- Aliya Hamza

    According to ARY News, former Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Aliya Hamza Malik was arrested in Islamabad from her residence on Wednesday.

    6- Maleeka Bokhari

    According to reports, authorities have picked up former MNA Maleeka from Islamabad

    Other than this, Jamshed Iqbal Cheema, Falaknaz Chitrali and Musarrat Jamshed Cheema have been arrested so far.

    7- Ejaz Chaudhry

    Senator got arrested on Thursday after Khan’s arrest.

    8- Ali Muhammad Khan

    On Thursday, Ali Muhummad Khan got arrested.

    9- Shireen Mazari

    In the early hours of Friday, the former human rights minister was arrested from her home in Islamabad. According to reports, she has been taken to Adiala Jail.

    10- Dr Yasmin Rashid

    Similarly, around the same time, the former provincial minister was arrested from Lahore. Her whereabouts are unknown.

    This is a developing story as it is feared that more leaders may get arrested soon.

  • Imran Khan arrest kyun huvay hain?

    Imran Khan arrest kyun huvay hain?

    In an unexpected development, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has been arrested from inside Islamabad High Court (IHC) by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) today (Tuesday).

    NAB bought arrest warrants with them, which were issued by the accountability watchdog’s Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Nazir Ahmad Butt on May 1. As per details, Khan was taken into custody under Section 9A of the National Accountability Ordinance 1999. 

    According to Islamabad police, Imran has been arrested in a case in which Bahria Town allegedly gave land worth Rs530 million to Khan and Bushra Bibi’s Al-Qadir Trust in return for a settlement.

    What is the Al-Qadir Trust case?

    In 2019, more than £190m of assets were seized from Malik Riaz by National Crime Agency (NCA) in the UK.

    Later, NCA returned this amount to Pakistan’s national treasury, however, the Khan-led cabinet of the time decided to submit millions of pounds to Supreme Court on behalf of Malik Riaz.

    A few weeks later, the Al-Qadir Trust was founded by Khan, Bushra Bibi, Zulfi Bukhari, and Babar Awan. Malik allotted 458 kanals to them to establish a university that apparently has only 35 students.

    However, according to senior journalist Kamran Khan, the former Prime Minister (PM) was arrested for making accusations against the top brass in the army including Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir.

    Earlier, Khan made serious allegations that General Faisal Naseer plotted his assassination. Later, when Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) condemned his words, he said that he can prove that ISI took over the judicial complex in Islamabad to murder him.