NAB arrests Aleem Khan

Lahore: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday arrested Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Aleem Khan in connection with offshore companies scandal. The PTI leader was taken into custody when he appeared before the accountability court for the hearing of two cases pertaining to offshore companies and disproportionate assets than income against him. Details relayed that senior minister’s answers failed to satisfy the NAB officials during the inquiry which lead to his arrest. The investigation officials were reportedly not satisfied with the records provided by him. Following his arrest, Khan tendered his resignation from his current post of supervising nearly five provincial ministries. He has been shifted to jail. The accused will be produced before the accountability court on January 7. Earlier, PTI leader said that he had provided the details of his assets to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). After the arrest, Khan said he will face cases against him. “I have faith in the judiciary and I will succeed.” He further clarified that only a case related to offshore companies was filed against him. “There has been no case of owning assets beyond known income against me.” “I never ever committed corruption of a single penny or held a piece of land in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he clarified. It is to be mentioned here that NAB had initiated probe into Aleem Khan’s offshore company on order of Chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal after he was named in Panama Leaks in April 2016 among 435 Pakistanis. A thorough inquiry had been launched into shell entities situated in British Virgin Islands and the accountability bureau had sought details of persons concerned from Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had also been directed to comply with NAB’s requirements for the inquiry. It is pertinent to note that a few days earlier, Khan castigated the bureau for dragging cases against him. Speaking to media, he had said the NAB should tell him if he was guilty in a case. “My case has been under trial in the NAB for four years and no decision has been taken on it yet.” He had regretted that inquiry in the case against him could not be completed from 2015 till 2019. “Tell us if we are guilty, we will leave the politics, and if not, then all cases must be closed.” Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday has hailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Aleem Khan for his volunteer resignation as Punjab Minister for Local Government and Community Development following National Accountability Bureau (NAB) detention in offshore companies case. The premier said that everything should be proceeded as per law in the cases against Aleem Khan. He has also directed the ministers to refrain from giving unnecessary remarks on the matter. “Aleem Khan’s arrest has proved that law is equal for everyone,” said Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid. “The government of Prime Minister Imran Khan was genuinely marked by justice.” Former Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair signified the arrest of Khan as “big development”, recalling that the Opposition was yearning for a nondiscriminatory accountability process.