ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah detailed on Tuesday the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan in the Al-Qadir Trust case, saying the arrest was legal.
The former prime minister was apprehended by Rangers officials from the Islamabad Judicial Complex a few hours ago, according to the IG Islamabad. He was arrested in the Al-Qadir Trust case, according to the federal capital’s top cop at the time. “The situation is typical. “Section 144 is in effect, and violations will result in police action,” said the Inspector General of Police in Islamabad.
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Sanaullah told a press conference following Imran’s arrest that Imran was arrested by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials in the Al-Qadir Trust case and that there were “dozens” of other corruption cases against him.
وفاقی وزیر داخلہ رانا ثناءاللہ اسلام آباد میں پریس کانفرنس کر رہے ہیں https://t.co/BPVvUoUi00
— PMLN Media (@PmlnMedia) May 9, 2023
He went on to say that the man who was campaigning against the government and making “false allegations of corruption” was himself embroiled in a “corruption scandal.”
According to the minister, a “property tycoon” laundered 190 million pounds (Rs70 billion) in the United Kingdom.
Sana maintained that former special assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) Shehzad Akbar was the key figure in the case, as he and Imran deceived their cabinet by concealing facts and documents related to the settlement agreement.
He claimed that money was received under the settlement agreement and was supposed to be deposited in the national exchequer, claiming that it “belonged to the people.” He went on to say that the amount was adjusted in a property-related case in Karachi that was settled by the Supreme Court of Pakistan against a Rs460 billion payment plan.
He claimed that Akbar was soon involved, and that the Al-Qadir Trust was formed as a result of an agreement. He kept 240 kanal properties in Bani Gala, and another 458 kanal property was registered under the trust.
He claimed that Imran and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were the only two trustees involved in the case. He claimed that the Bani Gala house was registered in Farah Gogi’s name and was worth Rs5bn -7bn, and that Akbar was paid Rs2bn for his “services.”
“Instead of bringing the Rs70bn in the national treasury, it was adjusted in the SC account of the property tycoon who was under trial at the SC,” Sana said.
He furthered that the Toshakhana (gift repository case) was further evidence of Imran’s corruption, adding that the former prime minister was stealing money while creating false allegations against the Sharif clan.
Commenting on details of the arrest, Sana said that the main cases of corruption were filed with NAB and clarified that the bureau was “independent” and not “controlled by the government. He added that he had not met with the NAB chief nor received any briefing on the matter.
He also claimed that with his knowledge, he could state that Imran was involved with “anti-state” powers and national enemies and other PTI leaders were involved with activities that could be labelled “anti-Pakistan”.
