Latest news with #AzamSwati
Express Tribune
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
NAB questions Swati in Upper Kohistan scandal
The National Accountability Bureau Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (NAB KP) has initiated an inquiry into Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Azam Swati in connection with the Upper Kohistan mega scandal. According to sources, Azam Swati appeared before the relevant NAB investigation committee on Friday. NAB officials revealed that a significant amount of money was transferred to Swati's bank account by a private firm allegedly linked to the scandal. The investigation team questioned him for over an hour regarding the suspicious transaction. Swati was also handed a questionnaire by NAB and asked to submit written responses. It is pertinent to mention that over Rs40 billion were withdrawn from the national treasury under the pretext of development projects in Upper Kohistan district. However, no physical evidence of these projects exists on the ground. The scope of the investigation has been expanded, with several officials from the Communications and Works Department, the District Accounts Office, and the National Bank of Kohistan, along with multiple politicians, now under scrutiny. On Thursday, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) barred NAB from arresting Azam Swati in connection with the Kohistan mega corruption scandal. However, the court directed him to cooperate and join the ongoing investigation. The ruling came during the hearing of a writ petition filed by Swati, which was taken up by a two-member bench comprising Justice Syed Arshad Ali and Justice Dr Khurshid Iqbal. It may be recalled that on June 23, Swati failed to appear before NAB in connection with the corruption scandal, despite being served a notice. Instead, his legal counsel appeared on his behalf. Later, he moved the PHC against the notice. According to NAB sources, on June 23, Swati's lawyer was instructed that the senator must appear in person. The lawyer requested a week's extension, but NAB refused the request and instructed Swati to appear without delay. A second notice will soon be issued, NAB confirmed. The initial notice required Azam Swati to appear on Monday as part of an inquiry into suspicious financial transactions linked to the Kohistan corruption case. NAB alleges that Rs300 million were transferred into Azam Swati's personal bank account, raising serious concerns about financial irregularities. NAB is investigating the Kohistan scandal following revelations of widespread corruption amounting to Rs40 billion. The bureau has directed Swati to submit the financial records of Kohistan Associates and Builders, including detailed bank account information. Billions of rupees were reportedly deposited into the company's accounts during the year 2024. The scandal came to light earlier this year, prompting the provincial government to formally request a NAB investigation. Subsequently, a cabinet-level inquiry committee, headed by the Chief Minister, was also formed to oversee the case. In May, the K-P government launched an investigation into the mega corruption scandal in Kohistan district. The scandal came under intense scrutiny during a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), chaired by Speaker of the K-P Assembly, Babar Saleem Swati. Officials from the Finance Department and the Accountant General's office admitted during the session that billions had been misappropriated from government funds.
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Swati skips NAB in Rs40b case
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Senator Azam Swati failed to appear before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in connection with the Rs40 billion Kohistan mega corruption scandal, despite being served a notice. Instead, his legal counsel appeared on his behalf. According to NAB sources, Swati's lawyer was instructed that the senator must appear in person. The lawyer requested a week's extension, but NAB refused the request and instructed Swati to appear without delay. A second notice will soon be issued, NAB confirmed. The initial notice required Azam Swati to appear on Monday as part of an inquiry into suspicious financial transactions linked to the Kohistan corruption case. NAB alleges that Rs300 million were transferred into Azam Swati's personal bank account, raising serious concerns about financial irregularities. NAB is investigating the Kohistan scandal following revelations of widespread corruption amounting to Rs40 billion. The bureau has directed Swati to submit the financial records of Kohistan Associates and Builders, including detailed bank account information. It is worth noting that billions of rupees were reportedly deposited into the company's accounts during the year 2024. The scandal came to light earlier this year, prompting the provincial government to formally request an NAB investigation. Subsequently, a cabinet-level inquiry committee, headed by the chief minister, was also formed to oversee the case. It may be mentioned here that last month the K-P government launched an investigation into the mega corruption scandal in Kohistan district, where an estimated Rs40 billion has allegedly been siphoned off from the provincial treasury. The scandal came under intense scrutiny during a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), chaired by Speaker of the K-P Assembly, Babar Saleem Swati. Officials from the Finance Department and the Accountant General's office admitted during the session that billions had been misappropriated from government funds. While an official embezzlement figure of Rs24 billion has been confirmed so far, PAC members expressed dissatisfaction with the explanations provided by Secretary Finance and the Accountant General.
Express Tribune
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Swati acquitted in 2014 sit-in case
A lower court in Islamabad on Friday acquitted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Azam Swati in a case pertaining to the violation of Section 144 during the party's 2014 sit-in, citing lack of evidence. Judicial Magistrate Mureed Abbas approved Swati's acquittal request in the case, which was registered for breaching Section 144 during the protests. During the hearing, advocate Sohail Khan read out the contents of the FIR and argued that there was no evidence on record linking his client to any violation. He requested the court to acquit Swati, maintaining that there was no legal basis for continuing the trial.
Express Tribune
15-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
PHC orders removal of Azam Swati's name from ECL
Peshawar High Court has granted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Azam Swati permission to travel abroad, ordering his name to be removed from the Exit Control List (ECL). According to the written order issued,, the court directed authorities to remove Swati's name from all travel restriction lists, including the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL) and the Passport Control List (PCL). Swati had challenged the travel ban imposed on him, arguing that the restrictions were unjustified. Last month, the division bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday granted bail to former federal minister and leader of the PTI Azam Khan Swati in the October 4 case registered at the Taxila police station. The bench comprising Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan and Justice Sadiq Mehmood Khurram ordered the PTI leader to submit a surety bond of Rs50,000. Swati has been in custody for the past four months and is currently incarcerated in Attock Jail. During the hearing, Advocate Dr Babar Awan argued that Swati's arrest was unjustified and that protest is a constitutional right of every citizen, which cannot be denied. He claimed that the police had levelled false accusations against his client. The court accepted the bail plea, opening the way for his release. There are two remaining cases, in which bail is also likely. This bail decision has also paved the way for the release of other arrested workers involved in the October 4 and 5 protests, including those from Taxila, Hassan Abdal, and Attock cases. Moreover, in October 2024, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad granted bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Azam Swati in a case filed under terrorism provisions. The case, registered at Sangjani Police Station, charged Swati with terrorism-related offences following protests and vandalism. Judge Abu Al-Hasanat Muhammad Zulkernain presided over the case and approved Swati's post-arrest bail against surety bonds of Rs20,000. Swati had been detained under terrorism clauses following allegations of inciting protests that led to property damage. Swati's legal team maintained that the charges were politically motivated. Furthermore, Swati on Sunday was taken into custody after a raid at his farmhouse in Chak Shahzad by the Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) Cyber Crime Wing Islamabad for allegedly tweeting against senior military officials in November 2022. He was later produced before a judicial magistrate, who handed him over to the FIA on a two-day physical remand. An FIR against Swati was registered by the FIA Cyber Crime Wing on November 26 2022 over 'controversial' tweets he had posted recently allegedly against government functionaries, including the former chief of the army staff (COAS). The report maintained that the PTI leader had started a 'highly obnoxious campaign of intimidating tweets' against state institutions, including the army chief 'with malafide intentions and ulterior motives'. The FIR was registered on the complaint of the state through Islamabad Cyber Crime Reporting Centre Technical Assistant Aneesur Rehman.
