ISLAMABAD: In a dramatic turn of events, an Islamabad accountability court has unleashed a legal onslaught by issuing non-bailable arrest warrants for prominent figures, including property tycoon Malik Riaz, former special assistants to the premier Mirza Shahzad Akbar and Zulfi Bukhari, and three others. The legal ramifications extend to Farhat Shahzadi, a close associate of the ex-premier Imran Khan’s spouse, lawyer Ziaul Mustafa Nasim, and Riaz’s son Ali Ahmed Riaz.
The move comes in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case, with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) having filed a reference against Imran Khan and seven others just last week. The case alleges a convoluted financial web, accusing Imran and Bushra Bibi of obtaining billions of rupees and vast land from Bahria Town Ltd for the purported legalization of Rs50 billion linked to the UK during the previous PTI government.
The NAB’s reference asserts that Imran played a pivotal role in the illicit transfer of funds meant for Pakistan, benefiting Bahria Town. Despite repeated opportunities to justify their actions, the accused, including Imran Khan, allegedly refused to provide information, with the judge noting this as a deliberate act with malafide intentions.
While Imran Khan is already in judicial custody for another case—the cipher case—the court has directed the Adiala jail superintendent to produce him for the next hearing on December 6. Meanwhile, Bushra Bibi, having secured interim bail, is expected to appear at the same hearing.
The court declared the remaining six suspects “stated as at large,” prompting the issuance of non-bailable arrest warrants. Trial proceedings are slated to take place at Adiala jail or the confinement location of the accused, as per a law ministry notification issued on November 14.
The reference outlines the accused’s repeated refusal to provide information, establishing, according to the court, their offense under the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO). It alleges a conspiracy involving key figures, with Imran Khan playing a pivotal role in the illicit fund transfer, and Shahzad Akbar being a crucial part of the illegal design.
Malik Riaz is accused of actively aiding and abetting the diversion of funds meant for the state, while Bushra Bibi and Farhat Shahzadi are said to have played significant and crucial roles in these alleged illegal activities.
With the court asserting the presence of sufficient incriminating evidence, the reference pleads for the suspects to be tried and punished in accordance with the law. The issuance of non-bailable arrest warrants intensifies the legal storm surrounding these high-profile figures, setting the stage for a legal battle with far-reaching implications.
