The statement of former Defense Minister Pervez Khattak was recorded during the hearing of the £190 million reference case against former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi on Wednesday.
The cross-examination of Abbas Goraya, the patwari (revenue official) of Bani Gala, Islamabad, was also completed.
The hearing of the £190 million reference case was held at Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, by Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Ali Warraich.
During the hearing, Bushra Bibi and PTI founder Imran Khan were produced from jail to the courtroom. However, former Minister Zubeida Jalal and former Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Azam Khan did not appear in court.
Lawyers Usman Riaz Gul and Chaudhry Zahir Abbas appeared on behalf of the accused, while Amjad Pervez and Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi appeared on behalf of NAB along with their legal team.
During the statement of former Defense Minister Pervez Khattak, Imran Khan came to the rostrum. Imran Khan smiled throughout Pervez Khattak’s statement.
The former Defense Minister told the court that NAB took his statement in May 2023 regarding the £190 million case.
Khattak said former Advisor on Accountability Shahzad Akbar had informed the cabinet that a large sum of money illegally sent abroad by a Pakistani had been seized in the UK. Shahzad Akbar had said that the seized amount would be returned to Pakistan, he added.
Pervez Khattak further stated that this matter was not on the cabinet’s agenda and was brought up as an additional agenda item during the meeting.
He said he, along with other cabinet members, objected to the additional agenda item. Documents related to the amount were presented in sealed envelopes in the cabinet, and approval for the additional agenda item was taken from the cabinet, claimed the former minister.
He said that the investigating officer of the reference told him that there was also a written note along with the agenda. The note stated that the money was transferred to the UK by Malik Riaz, the owner of Bahria Town.
During Pervez Khattak’s statement, Imran Khan said that now Nawaz Sharif’s flats should also be returned to Pakistan.
Pervez Khattak recorded his statement in 15 minutes and left. The cross-examination of Abbas Goraya, the patwari (revenue official) of Bani Gala, Islamabad, was also completed.
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A total of 31 witnesses’ statements have been recorded in the reference, and cross-examination of 30 has been completed.
In today’s hearing, former Federal Minister Pervez Khattak recorded his statement. After that, the hearing of the £190 million reference in Adiala Jail was adjourned till July 13.
The Accountability Court in Pakistan has summoned four individuals as witnesses in a high-profile case involving a £190 million reference against former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The individuals summoned are former Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Azam Khan, former Defense Minister Pervez Khattak, Zubeida Jalal, and Patwari Gohar Abbas. The court concluded the testimonies of 30 witnesses in the reference and adjourned further proceedings until July 10th.
