Tag: accountability court

  • Bushra Bibi wants solitary meeting with Imran Khan

    Bushra Bibi wants solitary meeting with Imran Khan

    In a notable development, Bushra Bibi, former First Lady, and the wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, has submitted a request to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking permission for a solitary meeting with her husband, reported Geo News.

    The request filed by Bushra Bibi in the IHC emphasises the legal constraints that hinder private interactions on domestic matters.

    The application states that the court has granted permission for meetings with Chairman PTI every Tuesday.

    It further states that discussions on personal matters are challenging in the presence of prison officials. 

    Bushra Bibi, in her plea, implores the court to issue specific instructions to the Superintendent of Adiala Jail, ensuring that solitary meetings are facilitated in accordance with legal provisions.

    The former prime minister is currently being held in Adiala Jail after his arrest from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore on August 5.

    He was moved to the prison on September 26 from Attock Jail where he was initially kept after his arrest.

    Khan was first convicted by a lower court in the Toshakhana case in August and sentenced to three years of imprisonment. The IHC suspended his sentence the same month.

    The Islamabad accountability court issued arrest warrants for PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the Toshakhana and £ 190 million Al-Qadir Trust cases on Tuesday.

    Khan was arrested in the Al-Qadir Trust case on May 9 for the first time.

    The £ 190 million (approximately Rs60 billion) settlement case pertains to the money of property tycoon, Malik Riaz, being laundered and caught by the UK authorities during Imran’s government in 2019. 

    The UK government had informed the Pakistani authorities regarding the money being caught.

    The former premier is already in prison as he was subsequently booked in the ‘cipher’ case.

    In the cipher case, Khan, along with his close aide and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, has been accused of leaking state secrets.

  • Jail trial in £190 million settlement case increasingly likely for Imran Khan

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s trial in the £190 million state money settlement case will probably take place in Adiala Jail, where the former Prime Minister is already incarcerated in the cypher case.

    A day earlier, when an accountability court in Islamabad issued Khan’s arrest warrants in the Al-Qadir Trust and Toshakhana cases, the PTI chairman was arrested within the jail premises.

    A National Accountability Bureau (NAB) team visited Adiala jail today and implemented arrest warrants through the jail superintendent.

    On the other hand, journalists asked Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir whether Imran Khan will face a jail trial as a notification is being passed in the matter.

    On this, judge Bushir responded that NAB can tell where the PTI chairman will be presented as there is a possibility of a jail trial after notifications’ approval.

    “Will you also go to Adiala jail then?” the judge questioned the journalists present in the court.

    The journalists replied that they are not even allowed to enter and report inside Adiala jail.

  • Accountability court acquits Nawaz Sharif in plot allotment case

    Accountability court acquits Nawaz Sharif in plot allotment case

    An accountability court has acquitted former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday in a case pertaining to a reference on illegal plot allotment.

    The judgement said that the record shows that Nawaz Sharif was subjected to political revenge, blaming the government of the time for forcing National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials to destroy the political career of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) head.

    The accountability court has declared that the role of Nawaz Sharif in the allegations of the reference is less than that of his co-accused.

    The court has ordered the restoration of the Sharif’s properties and those of 27 shareholders, while emphasising that NAB should release the property after the time of appeal expires.

    The accountability court has also said in the decision that the court cannot be a silent spectator.

  • NAB is talking about 10 billion, my entire family doesn’t have 10 billion: Usman Buzdar

    NAB is talking about 10 billion, my entire family doesn’t have 10 billion: Usman Buzdar

    Former Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Usman Buzdar has said on Monday that it is a strange thing that National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is talking about 10 billion, while his entire family’s assets aren’t even worth 10 billion.

    Speaking outside of the Accountability Court in Lahore where he had appeared in an assets beyond means case, Buzdar said that the bureau is making cases against him, his family, and his friends. He challenged NAB, saying that he will file a case against it hoping that he will get relief from the courts.

    When asked about former CM Punjab Pervaiz Elahi, who recently joined PTI, Buzdar seemed to avoid answering directly, stating that since he is standing outside of the court, there should be no talk or discussion related to politics.

    Buzdar has been given an extension in his interim bail till March 7.

    The court also ordered him to become part of the NAB investigation and warned him that if he didn’t do it then the court will not provide him relief. 

    The accountability court also scolded the NAB prosecutor for not providing an inquiry copy to Buzdar and said that the accused should know what he is accused of. The lawyer informed the court that a written document was sent to Buzdar but he did not become part of the investigation.

  • Maryam Nawaz, Capt Safdar acquitted in Avenfield case

    Maryam Nawaz, Capt Safdar acquitted in Avenfield case

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday acquitted Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz and her husband Captain (retd) Safdar in the Avenfield reference, nullifying the conviction handed to them in 2018 by an accountability court.

    A two-member bench, comprising of Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, presided over today’s hearing during which the court heard arguments from both sides.

    Former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif was handed 10 years as jail time for owning assets beyond known income and one year for not cooperating with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Meanwhile, Maryam was given 7 years for abetment after she was found “Instrumental in concealment of the properties of her father” and one year for non-cooperation with the bureau.

    Safdar was given one year jail time — for not cooperating with NAB, and aiding and abetting Nawaz and Maryam.

    Congratulating Maryam and Capt Safdar, PM Shehbaz tweeted, “The edifice of lies, slander & character assassination has come crumbling down today.”

    “Maryam Nawaz’s acquittal in the Avenfield Reference is a slap in the face of so-called accountability system that was employed to target Sharif family,” tweeted the PM.

    Maryam also received a phone call from her father, she congratulated him for the win.

    Later, talking to the media, Maryam said that she was thankful to Allah for making Nawaz and her proud today.

    Maryam asked PTI Chairman Imran Khan what would he do now as he has been proven “a liar” and “a conspirator”, while Nawaz has come out on top.

    Maryam told Khan that he is a “helpless” person now and whether or not he decides to answer for his deeds, history will ensure that you answer for it.

    In response to a question that the case was registered against her before PTI came into power and that some other powers were behind it, Maryam said: “Who was the beneficiary of all this? Had Nawaz remained here, then even in three lifetimes, Imran could not have come into power.”

  • NAB reports Rs864 billion recovery since inception

    NAB reports Rs864 billion recovery since inception

    Since its formation, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has recovered Rs864 billion from corrupt elements, directly and indirectly.

    The anti-graft watchdog, NAB has collected Rs584 billion during the tenure of incumbent Chairman Justice Javed Iqbal.

    Due to the NAB’s aggressive prosecution, the Accountability Courts penalized 1,405 accused persons and imposed substantial fines on them, as per a NAB spokesman.

    In the Accountability Courts, NAB has a 66 per cent overall conviction rate. NAB received a total of 405,768 complaints since its formation. A total of 405,212 complaints were handled. The inquiry of 556 complaints is still ongoing.

    100,865 complaints have been acknowledged by the NAB. There were around 100,425 complaints investigated. While 779 complaints were still being investigated. 9883 queries have been approved by NAB.

    8,953 queries were followed through to completion. A total of 930 inquiries were investigated.

    NAB allowed 4,547 investigations since its establishment. A total of 42,100 investigations have been completed. While working on 346, the probe is still ongoing. Since its founding, the NAB has filed 3,645 referrals in accountability courts. 2,398 references were disposed of in accordance with the law. Currently, 1,237 referrals worth Rs1,335 billion are being tried in various accountability courts.

  • Is Hamza Shehbaz going to be JKT’s new best friend? PML-N claims contact with Jahangir Tareen group

    Is Hamza Shehbaz going to be JKT’s new best friend? PML-N claims contact with Jahangir Tareen group

    Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz said: “We are in contact with everyone (including the Jahangir Khan Tareen group) as our sole target is removing Imran Khan.”

    When asked about Minis­ter for Water Resources Moonis Elahi’s statement that his party (Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid) stood with Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, Hamza said: “The Opposition is working on its plan to send the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government home and it will succeed.”

    The Jahangir Tareen group held a meeting at the residence of the chief minister’s former adviser, Awn Chaudry.

    In a conversation with the media after the meeting, disgruntled PTI leader Jahangir Tareen said that the political meeting was important in light of the current political situation in the country.

    Shedding light on the meeting, Tareen said that the current political situation and inflation came under discussion.

    “Politicians keep contact with each other, and these contacts will continue to exist,” he added. He also said that the politicians would consult each other on the country’s situation.

    Talking about the no-confidence motion, Tareen said: “No discussions regarding the no-trust motion took place as it’s too early to talk about it.”

  • ‘Those who brought Khan now admit they made a mistake’: Asif Ali Zardari

    ‘Those who brought Khan now admit they made a mistake’: Asif Ali Zardari

    Former president Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday while speaking to reporters during his appearance at an accountability court said, “Those who brought Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan are now admitting that they committed a mistake,” adding that they are now figuring out how to undo that mistake.

    “Only Allah knows best how they can fix this mistake,” said Zardari.

    When asked a question relating to Maryam Nawaz’s petition which was similar to that of former PM Benazir Bhutto, Zardari said he would not talk about it as “Maryam Nawaz is like a daughter to me. What comment should I make on my daughter?”

    Replying to a question about ex-chief justice Gilgit-Baltistan Rana Shamim’s affidavit, the former president said: “We have already seen this. Justice Qayyum had a tape with Saif-ur-Rehman and some friends as well.”

    A division bench of the Islamabad High Court comprising IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Amir Farooq heard the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) appeal against Zardari’s gold reference and Ursus tractors deal.

  • Watch: Zardari reacts to question, ‘Who will be next DG ISI?’

    Watch: Zardari reacts to question, ‘Who will be next DG ISI?’

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairperson and former President Asif Ali Zardari, when questioned about the appointment of Director General (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, responded with laughter.

    A journalist asked Zardari, “Appointments are being made, a summon has not been issued, what will you say?”

    “My summon?” asked Zardari in response.

    “Who will be the new DG ISI?” asked the journalist.

    Zardari responded by laughing out loud.

    Zardari made an appearance before an accountability court in Islamabad on Thursday and said that the “next turn” to form a government in the country will be that of the PPP.

    Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry on Wednesday tweeted that consultation between Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on the appointment of a new DG ISI had been completed and the process for the appointment had begun.

    According to experts in defence matters, the procedure for the appointment is not mentioned in the Constitution or the Army Act, and all past appointments were made as per traditions under which the army chief proposes three names to the premier who then makes a final decision, reports Dawn.

  • PML-N leader booked for ‘thrashing woman constable outside Lahore court’

    PML-N leader booked for ‘thrashing woman constable outside Lahore court’

    Islampura police on Wednesday registered a case against a senior leader of the PML-N for allegedly torturing and thrashing a lady police constable on the premises of an accountability court.

    According to a local media outlet, the police nominated PML-N leader Tanvir Chaudhry in the first information report on the complaint of anti-riot force constable Anam Fatima.

    She alleged the suspect tried to enter the premises of the accountability court along with five unknown women without seeking permission. As she and her colleague Sonia Ashraf tried to stop them, Tanvir Chaudhry got furious and slapped her.

    The FIR stated that he and the unidentified women then thrashed her publicly, Anam alleged and added the attackers also hurled threats at her.

    However, conflicting reports claim that the police arrested another PML-N MPA, namely Tanveer Bibi, for slapping the lady constable and registered a case against the lawmaker after approval from the Punjab Assembly speaker.

    Meanwhile, a police official has confirmed to the media that the matter had been referred to the investigation wing for further action against the suspects.

    Later, Tanvir Chaudhry’s son took to Twitter and said: “Incompetence at its peak! Punjab government lodging an FiR against my father who is not even in Pak[istan] & @Dawn_News, @dawn_com incompetence at its peak putting up wrong picture and writing an article on a man who’s not been in Pak[istan] for 6months.”

    “Going for a defamation suit against both,” he added.