The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has expressed its intention to engage in dialogue with the influential forces in the country, with incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan announcing his plan to correspond with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir regarding the deteriorating economic and political conditions in Pakistan.
Speaking to journalists from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, Imran Khan stated his intention to write to the army chief amidst efforts to address the current challenges faced by the nation. This decision follows Imran’s recent assignment of a significant task to former President Dr. Arif Alvi, who has been actively working to bridge the gap between the establishment and the PTI.
Imran Khan, who was ousted from power through a parliamentary vote in April of the previous year, delegated responsibilities to Alvi after refusing to comply with demands from the military to apologize for the May 9 riots. He also distanced his party from the violent protests that ensued following his arrest.
Regarding the £190 million settlement case, Imran Khan clarified that the Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) had seized the amount due to suspicious transactions, though he denied allegations of money laundering. Notably, during the PTI government, the NCA confiscated assets totaling £190 million from a property tycoon.
Imran Khan expressed concerns that if the case were to proceed in civil court, the funds might not be repatriated to Pakistan for another five years. He also mentioned that both a private party and the UK’s NCA had requested the agreement details to remain undisclosed.
When questioned about the involvement of then-Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on accountability, Shehzad Akbar, and Farhat Shahzadi alias Farah Gogi, in proving his innocence, Imran Khan stated that his interactions with Gogi were limited and primarily related to his wife. He also suggested that Akbar might face difficulties returning to Pakistan given the current circumstances.
It’s noteworthy that an accountability court in Rawalpindi indicted Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in the £190 million reference in February 2024. The case involves an NAB inquiry into a settlement between the PTI government and a property tycoon, allegedly resulting in a loss of £190 million to the national exchequer.
According to the charges, Imran Khan and other accused parties purportedly facilitated the transfer of Rs. 50 billion (£190 million) from the UK’s NCA to the Pakistani government as part of an agreement with the property tycoon. They are also accused of receiving undue benefits, including land, to establish Al Qadir University.
During the PTI government, assets worth £190 million were seized from a British property tycoon by the NCA, and it was decided that these assets would be transferred to the Pakistani government. However, details of the settlement agreement were not disclosed by the PTI-led government.
Following cabinet approval, a trust named Al-Qadir Trust was established, with Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi, and Farah Khan as trustees. Zulfi Bukhari and Babar Awan, initially appointed as members, later withdrew. The NAB initiated an investigation into the case after discovering evidence suggesting misuse of power in the recovery process of the funds from the UK crime agency.
The investigation focuses on allegations that Imran Khan and his wife obtained land from the property tycoon to construct an educational institute in exchange for legal protection of the tycoon’s assets received from the UK crime agency.
