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Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
RDA blames ex-officers for Rs1.94b scam
The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has held a retired Director of Administration and Finance, a late Deputy Director of Finance, and a retired Assistant Director of Finance responsible for a mega financial scandal amounting to Rs1.94 billion. The authority has formally referred the matter to the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE), the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for action and recovery of losses. According to an official statement issued by the RDA Director-General, Kinza Murtaza, serious irregularities have been identified in the financial records of the authority, causing substantial loss to the public exchequer. The individuals allegedly involved include the retired Director of Admin and Finance, the late former DD of Finance, and the retired AD of Finance. The DG emphasised that recovering the financial losses resulting from this corruption is imperative. She noted that legal recovery of the amounts due is possible within the framework of the law, including through attachment and confiscation of properties and assets. Citing relevant legal provisions, she referenced section C-33 of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999 for recovery of embezzled funds, sections 12 and 15 of the NAB Ordinance for freezing and confiscating assets, section 50 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (CPC) for recovery of civil liabilities from the estate of a deceased person, and Order XXII Rule 4 of the CPC to initiate legal proceedings against legal heirs after the death of an accused. Murtaza has formally written to the NAB Rawalpindi, FIA, and ACE Rawalpindi, urging swift recovery of the embezzled amount. Talking to The Express Tribune, sources revealed that senior officials, who served as DGs or Directors of Admin and Finance in the RDA over the past nine years, and who held signatory authority over financial matters, might also face action from NAB, FIA, and the ACE for failing to ensure transparency. Meanwhile, the official residence of the late DD Finance was sealed in Civil Lines in the nine-year-old mega corruption scandal in the Authority. Despite 236 suspicious transactions involving the RDA's National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) account, transfers were made to eight companies and 12 individuals and the RDA's financial discipline remained silent, the sources added. It is still to be determined which officials received vehicles in exchange for an Rs110m payment made to a car showroom. Separate payments of Rs175.7 million, Rs339.44m, Rs161.412m, Rs264.45m, Rs393.16m, and Rs74,25m were paid to several companies and individuals. Meanwhile, a probe committee appointed by the RDA DG says it is not currently in a position to identify the primary culprit behind the fraud.
Business Recorder
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Appeals of IK, Bushra: IHC issues notice to NAB
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued notices to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi's appeals seeking suspension of their sentence in £190 million case. A two-member bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif, on Thursday, heard the case. During the hearing, Salman Akram Raja, Latif Khosa and Niazullah Niazi appeared before the court while Imran's sisters and party leadership were also present. Khosa and other PTI lawyers requested the court that the matter be scheduled for hearing on next Wednesday. Accepting the request, the court sought replies from NAB and other respondents and directed that the appeals be listed for hearing in the next week. Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi have approached the IHC seeking suspension of their sentences in 190 million pound case. The petitioners were convicted by the Accountability Court (I) Islamabad vide judgment dated 17.01.2025, wherein, they were held guilty for commission of offence of corruption and corrupt practices as defined u/s 9 (a) (ii) (iv) (vi) of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999 and Imran was sentenced u/s 10(a) of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999 to undergo rigorous imprisonment (RI) for 14 years and fine amounting to Rs1,000,000. The petitioners have sought indulgence of this court for 'Suspension' of conviction and sentence awarded to them, till the final disposal of the main appeal already filed in the IHC. Barrister Salman Safdar, who had filed the petition on behalf of Imran Khan, contended that his client is quite aggrieved and frustrated with the malicious campaign of political victimisation the sole agenda of which is to keep him behind the bars for an indefinite period. He added that the allegations levelled against the petitioner does not find any support from the evidence produced during the trial in support of the baseless and frivolous accusations; therefore, petitioners craved for the kind indulgence of this court for grant of 'Suspension of Sentence'. Safdar stated that petitioner Imran is a 72 years old, former prime minister who has been awarded sentence solely to keep him away from political the arena and post-arrest bail of petitioner was confirmed by the divisional bench of IHC on 14.05.2024 by taking into account the frivolous nature of allegations. He also said that the post-arrest bail of Imran was confirmed by this court by acknowledging that legal framework agreement documenting the transaction between Malik Riaz family and NCA, UK, is absent from the record while provisions of Section 426(1) are analogous to those of Section 497 CrPC 1898. The counsel contended that the NAB Reference No 19/ 2023 is an outcome of relentless and never-ending wave of political victimisation launched at the behest of political adversaries and the Al-Qadir Trust Case and the subsequent conviction and sentence is the 3rd attempt by the NAB authorities to implicate the petitioners in a frivolous and baseless case initiated as a result of a well-orchestrated scheme. He argued that the prosecution has miserably failed to establish any monetary gain on behalf of petitioners and no funds or money was ever transferred to personal account of the petitioner. He prayed that conviction and sentence awarded by the trial court vide impugned judgment dated 17.01.2025 may kindly be suspended and petitioners may kindly be released till the final disposal of Criminal Appeal No 63 of 2025. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Al-Qadir Trust scam case: IHC to hear appeals of IK, Bushra on 8th
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) will hear Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi's appeals to suspend sentences in £190 million case on May 8. A two-member bench of IHC comprising Acting Chief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif will hear the case along with the objections raised by the IHC Registrar office. Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were convicted by the Accountability Court (I) Islamabad through judgment dated 17.01.2025, wherein, they were held guilty for commission of offence of corruption and corrupt practices as defined u/s 9(a)(ii)(iv)(vi) of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999, and Imran was sentenced u/s 10(a) of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999, to undergo rigorous imprisonment (RI) for 14 years and fine amounting to Rs1,000,000. Through the instant petition, they sought indulgence of this court for 'Suspension' of conviction and sentence awarded to them, till the final disposal of the main appeal already filed in the IHC. It is their stance that that aggrieved and frustrated with the malicious campaign of political victimisation the sole agenda of which is to keep him detained for an indefinite period of time. They added that the allegations levelled against the petitioner does not find any support from the evidence produced during the trial in support of the baseless and frivolous accusations, therefore, petitioners craved for the kind indulgence of this court for grant of 'Suspension of Sentence'. Barrister Salman Safdar, the petitioners counsel, submitted that Imran is a 72 years old, former prime minister, who has been awarded sentence solely to keep him away from political arena. He stated that post-arrest bail of Imran was confirmed by the divisional bench of IHC on 14.05.2024 by taking into account the frivolous nature of allegations. He also said that the post-arrest bail of Imran was confirmed by this court by acknowledging that legal framework agreement documenting the transaction between Malik Riaz family and NCA, UK, is absent from the record while provisions of Section 426(1) are analogous to those of Section 497 CrPC 1898. The counsel contended that the NAB Reference No 19/ 2023 is an outcome of relentless and never-ending wave of political victimisation launched at the behest of political adversaries and Al-Qadir Trust Case and the subsequent conviction and sentence is the 3rd attempt by the NAB Authorities to implicate the petitioners in a frivolous and baseless case initiated as a result of well-orchestrated scheme. He argued that the prosecution has miserably failed to establish any monetary gain on behalf of petitioners and no funds or money was ever transferred to personal account of the petitioner. Barrister Safdar maintained that the NAB selectively prosecuted the petitioner and his wife while excluding six others making it a case of selective prosecution and sentence awarded to Imran by another Accountability Court in Toshakhana (I) case had already been suspended by this court while there is no abuse or misuse of the relief extended. He said that the conviction and sentence is unjustified, unfair and unsafe on the face of it, there is no likelihood of the immediate hearing of the main appeal therefore, petitioner craved for kind indulgence to 'Suspend the Sentence' awarded through Judgment dated 17.01.2025. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
24-03-2025
- Express Tribune
Ex-IB chief's writ in benami case dismissed
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has dismissed a writ petition filed by a former IB director general, Brigadier (retd) Imtiaz Ahmed, against issuance of a show cause notice to him by the FBR for holding a benami house. The former IB chief was acquitted by an accountability court of the charges of having moveable and immovable properties beyond his known sources of income. However, later, the FBR served a notice on him under the Act of 2017 for keeping a precarious house under a front. IHC Judge Justice Muhammad Azam Khan in his order noted that both the offences are different in nature and under different statutes, as the offence under the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO), 1999 is pertaining to the property beyond his known source of income, while under the Act of 2017, the offence is distinct by being beneficiary for a benami transaction. "Since the offences are distinct, the petitioner's accusation in both cases do not constitute double jeopardy," said the order. Hafiz Ahsaan Ahmad Khokhar Advocate represented the FBR while FBR commissioner benami zone also argued before the IHC single-member bench. The judgement noted that the word "benami" means without a name, nameless or fictitious. Benami transaction is used to denote a transaction which is really done by a person without using his own name but in the name of another. "In the present case, the Impugned Notice was issued by the Respondent No 1 [FBR] to the Petitioner [ex-IB chief] under Section 22 (2) of the Act of 2017, to show cause regarding the Subject House and as to why such property should not be treated as a benami property. "A similar notice was issued to Respondent No2 (straw owner) wherein it was mentioned that upon inquiry from the CDA [Capital Development Authority], it was confirmed that the property was transferred in June, 1999 and the Subject House is still in his name. "The CDA also confirmed that the Respondent No2 has executed a General Power of Attorney in favour of the Petitioner [ex-IB chief]. The notice further reveals that the property has always been in beneficial use of the Petitioner and the rent proceeds of the Subject House were always collected in the form of cash by the petitioner." According to the notice, the tax declarations filed over the years showed a financial health that did not warrant purchase of such an expensive property and the straw owner became approver against Brigadier (retd) Imtiaz Ahmed in the proceedings initiated by the NAB. "The Respondent No2 [straw owner of the house] conceded the benami arrangement of purchase of this particular property among others," said the order. The order noted that the petitioner [ex-IB chief] should have contested the FBR notice by submitting a reply before the relevant authority under the Act of 2017the Adjudicating Authority/Adjudication Committee.
Express Tribune
27-01-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
IHC CJ tasked with forming new bench for Imran, Bushra's Iddat case appeal
Listen to article An appeal challenging the acquittal of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in the iddat case has been referred to the Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court for the formation of a new bench. The hearing, presided over by Additional Judge Justice Azam Khan, featured arguments from both sides. The petitioner, Khawar Maneka, was represented by legal counsel Zahid Asif Chaudhry and Iqbal Kakur, among others. Representing the respondents, Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi, were lawyers Ali Bukhari, Shoaib Shaheen, and Niazullah Niazi. During the proceedings, Zahid Asif Chaudhry argued that the acquittal order issued on 13 July 2024 by the Additional Sessions Judge was being contested. Responding to this, Shoaib Shaheen raised concerns over the impartiality of the bench, requesting that the case be transferred to a different panel of judges. 'You have already disclosed your stance; this case should be moved to another bench,' Shoaib Shaheen argued. Justice Azam Khan addressed the concerns, stating, 'We have previously heard a review petition against one order. In light of your request, we will forward the case to the Chief Justice for the formation of a new bench.' Following this, the court officially transferred the appeal file to Chief Justice Aamer Farooq of the Islamabad High Court. The iddat case revolves around allegations that the marriage of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi took place during Bushra's iddat period, a duration prescribed by Islamic law after divorce. Both were acquitted in July 2024 but due to legal objections, an appeal was filed in the court. Chief Justice Aamer Farooq will now determine the composition of the new bench to hear the appeal. Imran, Bushra convicted in £190m case Earlier this month, Former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were convicted in the £190 million case. Imran Khan was sentenced to 14 years in prison, while Bushra Bibi received a seven-year jail term. Accountability Court Judge Nasir Javed Rana announced the order in a courtroom inside Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail, where Imran had been detained for over one year. In addition to the prison sentences, the court imposed fines of Rs1 million on Imran and Rs500,000 on Bushra. If the fines are not paid, Imran Khan will serve an additional six months in prison, and Bushra Bibi will face an extra three months. The verdict also declared that the property of the "sham trust," Al-Qadir University Project Trust, is to be forfeited to the Federal Government in accordance with Section 10(a) of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999. The verdict was announced amid tight security outside jail. Following the verdict, Bushra Bibi was immediately arrested in the courtroom.
