The NAB prosecution in the £190 million corruption case reveals in Islamabad High Court that in PTI government controversial cabinet approval was taken in National Crimes Agency (NCA) case in which property tycoon Malik Riaz funds were confiscated by NCA and later on released by the government.
Today, Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri resumed hearing on the petitions.
Special Prosecutor Amjad Pervaiz was presenting arguments regarding the post-arrest bail petitions of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in this case.
In response to Justice Jahangiri’s question about whether the prosecution obtained the certified copy that froze Malik Riaz’s funds, the prosecutor responded negatively.
“Claims deed to unfreeze funds post-NCA confiscation, sanctioned without cabinet disclosure.”
When asked if the prosecution possessed the order to unfreeze the funds, Mr. Amjad Pervaiz stated that there was no certified order copy, but he mentioned that the documents obtained from the UK contained all the case details.
Mr. Amjad Pervaiz contended that the previous PTI government set up of Assets Recovery Unit (ARU), headed by then adviser on accountability Mirza Shahzad Akbar, was directly reporting to the prime minister as it was situated at the PM Secretariat.
He mentioned that the ARU wrote to the NCA regarding money laundering by Malik Riaz, who bought a property in Hyde Park from Hassan Nawaz.
Mr. Amjad Pervaiz highlighted that the Supreme Court imposed Rs 460 billion fine on Malik Riaz in a land case, and the amount was recently transferred to the Sindh government.
He stated that Bahria Town acquired 458 kanals of land in the name of Zulfi Bukhari months before the establishment of Al-Qadir Trust, and discussions on Al-Qadir Trust began after the land was transferred.
He added that the ARU was handling the Bahria Town case at that time.
The prosecutor mentioned that after the NCA confiscated Mr. Riaz’s funds, Shahzad Akbar drafted a confidential deed to unfreeze this money and had it approved by the federal cabinet, even without disclosing its contents to the cabinet members.
Justice Jahangiri asked about the reason for the NCA freezing the funds.
The prosecutor responded that the NCA seized the transaction due to suspicion; however, the accused individuals facilitated the transfer of this amount to Malik Riaz’s account illegally. Further hearing in this matter has been adjourned until May 13.
