The Islamabad High Court Tuesday reserved its verdict on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s bail petition in the £190 million National Crime Agency (NCA) settlement reference.
A two-member bench, comprising IHC CJ Aamer Farooq, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, reserved the verdict after the completion of arguments.
Amjad Parvez, the National Accountability Bureau’s special prosecutor, when presenting his arguments said that the money should have come to the Government of Pakistan.
In its order, the Supreme Court mentioned that the money belonged to the state of Pakistan.
“The amount declared by the Supreme Court was wrongly sent to its account.”
Meanwhile, he added, the Asset Recovery Unit told the prime minister that it was their success in securing this money.
“According to the documents, the money could not have been transferred without the permission of the National Crime Agency,” Pervez said.
Addressing the NAB special prosecutor, the IHC chief justice asked if the money he referred to was proceeds of crime.
Justice Jahangiri, addressing Pervez, remarked: “You don’t have any documentation of this, it’s all verbal talk. You were earlier asked if you have the order of freezing or de-freezing [the accounts]. You said you don’t have any of those documents.”
The NAB lawyer was questioned about evidence of out-of-court settlements by both the judges.
“What will you say about the money transferred before the note given to the prime minister?” asked Justice Jahangiri.
“This money was transferred after the confidentiality deed,” replied the NAB prosecutor, adding that the PTI founder was the head of the Assets Recovery Unit.
It is not written in the confidentiality deed that the money will be deposited in the Supreme Court’s account, remarked Justice Jahangiri.
“This confidentiality deed was a huge fraud,” Pervez responded.
The IHC judge then asked how was the deed related to PTI founder.
A public servant cannot accept a gift from a person whose case is pending with him, said NAB counsel.
He also added that “458 kanals of land were purchased and transferred to the name of Zulfi Bukhari.”
