Former ally testifies against Imran in corruption case

AN erstwhile close friend and confidant of Imran Khan, Pervez Khattak, has testified against the former premier in the 190-million-pound case in front of an accountability court in Adiala jail, Rawalpindi. The former chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa claimed that Mr Khan’s cabinet, of which he was a member, had approved a “controversial transfer of money that had been seized by the UK, to Bahria Town owner Malik Riaz”.

Before Mr Khattak, a number of people once considered close to the former prime minister have stood in the witness box in cases against the PTI supremo, including his secretary Azam Khan and once confidant Aun Chaudhry. But Mr Khan had more or less remained calm when such people appeared in court. However, when Mr Khattak prepared to testify, Mr Khan apparently tried to get close to him in order to get a good look at him.

In his statement, the former PTI leader told accountability Judge Mohammad Ali Warraich how the £190m seized by the UK’s National Crime Agency as proceeds of crime was allegedly returned to Mr Riaz.

The case alleges that the ex-premier and his wife Bushra Bibi obtained billions of rupees and hundreds of kanals from Bahria Town Ltd for legalising the said amount through the federal cabinet.

Mr Khattak testified before the court that he had attended the cabinet meeting in question, which allegedly took place in December of 2019. During the meeting, then-accountability adviser Mirza Shahzad Akbar produced a confidential deed in a sealed envelope for cabinet’s approval.

The former minister said that when he inquired about the document, Mr Akbar said it was an agreement between the Pakistani government and the NCA for the refund of crime proceeds. According to Mr Khattak, some cabinet members asked Mr Akbar to disclose the details of the document, but he refused to do so despite their insistence.

Prosecution witnesses Nadeem Afzal Chan, Zubaida Jalal and former principal secretary Azam Khan were not in the court. Owing to this fact, the defence counsel did not cross-examine Mr Khattak, saying that since the same evidence concerned many witnesses they would cross-examine them jointly. The next hearing is set for July 13.