As the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) prepares for its intra-party election, Akbar S. Babar, a founding member who has been estranged from the party and has filed cases against it, made a return to the party secretariat after a prolonged absence. This marked his first appearance at the party’s headquarters in 13 years.
Babar expressed that numerous old members were eager to participate in the intra-party election, and he visited the secretariat to gather information about nomination papers, voter lists, and the election process. While he did not specify whether he intended to contest for a specific position, Babar conveyed his desire to actively participate in the polls.
Akbar S. Babar played a significant role in initiating the foreign funding case against the PTI. Meanwhile, Barrister Gohar Khan submitted his nomination papers for the election, positioning himself as the leading candidate for the role of the party’s caretaker chairman. Senator Ali Zafar, announcing Gohar’s nomination, mentioned that it received approval from Imran Khan himself.
The PTI is scheduled to conduct its intra-party elections on December 2, following a ruling by the Election Commission of Pakistan, which warned that the party could risk losing its electoral symbol if the polls were not held.
NAB Files Reference Against Imran Khan and Others in £190 Million Settlement Case
In another development, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in Rawalpindi filed a reference against Imran Khan, Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and seven others in connection to the £190 million settlement case.
The Deputy Prosecutor General of NAB, along with Investigating Officer Mian Umar Nadeem, submitted the reference in Islamabad’s accountability court, listing eight suspects, including Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi.
In 2019, the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) reached a £190 million settlement with the Riaz family following an investigation into frozen funds. The settlement, part of an out-of-court agreement with the property tycoon, mandated the return of funds to the government of Pakistan. The settlement included a UK property, 1 Hyde Park Place, London, valued at around £50 million, and the entirety of the frozen accounts.
Imran Khan filed a post-arrest bail plea in the accountability court on Thursday, asserting that the cases against him were politically motivated to tarnish his reputation.
The plea, submitted by Latif Khosa, Intezar Panjutha, and Ali Aijaz, requested bail until a decision in the £190 million case. Judge Muhammad Bashir issued notices to the involved parties and adjourned the hearing until December 4.
