ISLAMABAD, (NNI): Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said on Tuesday that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested former premier and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan for causing a massive loss to the national exchequer.
While addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Rana Sanaullah said that the NAB is not controlled by the federal government. “There is documentary evidence [against Imran Khan],” claimed the interior minister.
“There is no need to hold a thorough investigation after having concrete evidence. Rs50 billion was looted in accordance with the Al-Qadir Trust case and [former SAPM on accountability] Shahzad Akbar also fled away with Rs2 billion.”
He alleged that Khan owned property worth Rs6 billion after causing a financial dent of Rs7 billion to the national exchequer. Sanaullah claimed that Imran Khan and his wife are trustees of the Al-Qadir Trust.
“Rangers personnel were already present in the surroundings of the high court building and Red Zone. They informed us about making the arrest without any disturbance. Lawyers tried to resist which led to the breaking of window glasses. The windows of the building were not broken by Rangers officials.”
Sanaullah said that Khan had already given a statement that he is mentally prepared for his arrest before leaving Lahore.
The interior minister offered Imran Khan to conduct judicial inquiry of two alleged assassination attempts on him. “If we analyse Imran Khan’s campaigning thoroughly, then we will find out the foreign elements who are backing him. The accused Naveed Bashir was a religious extremist and Imran Khan is telling lie that someone planned to kill him.”
Rana Sanaullah said that an accused can be arrested anywhere when arrest warrants are issued. He also criticised the chief justice of the high court for taking notice of Imran Khan’s arrest and said that the notice should also be taken for other persons as well.
Rana Sana alleged that gifts were stolen from Tosha Khana and sold abroad at high prices.
He said Farah Gogi sent out Rs12 billion through the banking channel.
“In Imran Khan’s government, Chairman NAB was held hostage,” said Rana Sanaullah.
The interior minister said a laundered amount of 190 million pounds or around Rs70 billion belonging to a “property tycoon” was caught in the United Kingdom.
“According to the law, this amount rightfully belonged to the people of Pakistan,” he added, further saying that it was to be deposited in the national treasury and the UK government had contacted the Pakistani government regarding the amount’s return.
He said it was not the case of an action to seek revenge but a clear case of corruption.
Imran Khan was arrested from the Islamabad High Court’s premises by NAB in the Al-Qadir Trust case earlier today where he was present for two hearings on Tuesday afternoon.
Soon after the arrest, Islamabad police released a statement quoting Inspector General of Police Akbar Nasir as saying that Imran had been arrested in relation to the case which alleges that the PTI chief and his wife obtained billions of rupees from a real estate firm for legalising a laundered amount of Rs50 billion that was identified and returned to the country by the UK during the previous PTI government. NNI
