In a legal saga unfolding within the confines of Adiala Jail, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, already incarcerated in the cipher case, now finds himself ensnared in the intricate web of the Al-Qadir Trust case and Toshakhana reference, following an arrest by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) .
This development transpired on Monday, as Accountability Court Judge Mohammad Bashir, wielding ratified arrest warrants, directed the Adiala Jail superintendent to effectuate the arrest of the former Prime Minister.
During the court proceedings, Judge Bashir sought insights from the NAB prosecutor regarding Mr. Khan’s pending bail petitions in the two cases. NAB’s Deputy Prosecutor General Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi conveyed that the pleas were awaiting consideration in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), and no restraining order had been issued thus far.
The legal discourse pivoted to the next steps, with the NAB prosecutor elucidating that, as per legal provisions, the accused must be presented before the court within 24 hours of arrest. Emphasizing precedent, he noted the issuance of arrest warrants for individuals already in custody, leaving room for the court to direct the Adiala Jail superintendent to execute the warrants.
Responding to queries concerning the Special Court (Official Secrets Act), Mr. Abbasi affirmed the Special Court judge’s approval, paving the way for NAB to pursue Mr. Khan’s arrest and delve into the investigations in both cases.
The NAB’s reference against Mr. Khan in the Toshakhana case alleges the misuse of authority during his tenure as Prime Minister, specifically retaining state gifts. A parallel legal entanglement in the Al-Qadir Trust case implicates Mr. Khan and his wife in the receipt of substantial funds and land from Bahria Town owner Malik Riaz.
This legal labyrinth unfolds against the backdrop of a prior Toshakhana case in August, resulting in a three-year imprisonment sentence for Mr. Khan, subsequently overturned by the Islamabad High Court. However, the ongoing cipher case has kept him incarcerated.
In the Al-Qadir Trust case, allegations include misleading the federal cabinet and diverting funds meant for the national exchequer into the Supreme Court’s account, arising from a settlement with the UK’s National Crime Agency.
Imran Khan’s legal odyssey continues, with the shadows of multiple cases casting uncertainty on his political future.
