Islamabad : Dec 4 : An accountability court of Islamabad on Monday issued non-bailable arrest warrant of Pakistan ‘s property tycoon and owner of Bahria Town, Malik Riaz, his son , Ali Riaz, former advisor to prime minister , Shahzad Akbar , Zulfi Bukhari and Furrukh Gogi , a close friend and front lady of former first lady Bushra Bibi , lawyer Ziaul Mustafa Nasim, in Al -Qadir Trust case and ordered to produced to the accused before the court on the next hearing fixed for December 6.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had filed a reference against former prime minister , Imran Khan , and other accused . The reference called Imran Khan as a prime minister who played a pivtol role in adjusting € 190 m (Rs 60 billion) against Malik Riaz’s outstanding amount in Karachi Bahria Town land scam.
The reference added that Imran Khan , his wife Bushra Bibi got billions of rupees from Malik Riaz for passing on to him a benefit of Rs 60 billion transferred by British National Crime Agency (NCA) . The court of judge, Mohammad Bashir , also ordered to produce Bushra Bibi on next hearing of the case.
Six accused including main beneficiary of the fraud, Malik Riaz , his son Ali Riaz , Shahzad Akbar, Zulfi Bukhari , Furrukh Gogi are out of Pakistan. Only Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi are in Pakistan and facing multiple corruption cases . Ex -PM Imran Khan is already in Adiala Jail and Bushra Bibi is on interim bail in this case.
The reference
The reference said the “accused […] were given multiple opportunities to justify and provide information, but they deliberately, with malafide intention, refused to provide the information on one or the other pretext.
“Furthermore, it is established through their responses that they have nothing in their defence to rebut the above-mentioned allegations. Thus, they all have committed an offence” under the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO).
It added that the investigation proceedings and findings so far “established that accused persons in connivance with each other have committed the offence of corruption and corrupt practices” as defined under the NAO.
The reference said Imran played a “pivotal role” in the illicit transfer of funds which were meant for the state which ultimately benefited Riaz.
Akbar, a former special assistant to the premier and Asset Recovery Unit chief, played a “crucial role” in the “illegal design of the funds” which were meant for the state, the reference said.
Malik, the reference said, had “actively aided, abetted and assisted and acted in conspiracy” with the other respondents for the diversion of funds earmarked for the state.
Bushra Bibi and Shahzadi also played a “significant” and “crucial” role in the “illegal activities”, the latter also a “front woman” for Imran and his wife, it said.
The reference said that it was “just and proper” to proceed against the eight suspects as there was “sufficient incriminating evidence” available to justify the reference.
It pleaded that the eight suspects be tried and punished in accordance with the law by the court or any other to which the reference was entrusted.
