PTI’s Aleem Khan handed over to NAB on 9-day remand

Lahore: Senior Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf leader Aleem Khan was Thursday handed over to National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on a 9-day physical remand. Judge Najamul Hassan heard the case during which NAB prosecutor Waris Ali Janjua presented arguments. NAB prosecutor appeared before the court along with a detailed report which says that Aleem Khan made Hexam Investment Overseas Ltd in UK. However; NAB did not find the details of money worth 99,052 . The report revealed that Khan also created R&R International FZC IN UAE. Moreover, he also owns assets in Jumairah village, Orange Lake Villa and Jumairah Golf Estate in Dubai. The anti-corruption watchdog s lawyer adopted stance that Khan was elected as MPA in 2003 following which he made a 900-kanal property. He also bought a house worth Rs1.5 crore in the same year, added the lawyer. Janjua maintained that Khan formed a company in his wife s name in 2005 and heavily invested in it and later bought foreign flats in 2017. “Aleem Khan failed to answer about the source of money used for offshore companies, investment in Pakistan and for buying land. Complete evidence on offshore companies and assets beyond known income is being submitted in court,” said the prosecutor. Aleem Khan’s lawyer Azhar Siddiqui while opposing NAB s plea argued that assets worth Rs878 million of the company have been declared. “All the asset details are on record as per law. Practicing politics does not mean that all the assets have been made from government money. All the record of my client s official visit is present,” he asserted. The PTI leader sought the permission of court to speak under oath. The judge permitted him following which he pronounced, “No complaint came against me from 2002. I did not misuse my authority while the NAB case is insignificant. All the details are included in tax record. I received the money in inheritance. I provided all the record to NAB and appeared before whenever summoned. NAB did not sought any record from UK or UAE.” Aleem Khan is being represented by lawyer Advocate Azhar Siddique and Amjad Pervez. NAB authorities had pleaded for a 15-day physical remand of Khan. The court ordered to produce Khan on February 15. The senior minister was arrested a day earlier for owning assets beyond his known sources of income. NAB press release suggest that Khan faces multiple inquiries, including one involving offshore company Hexam Investment Overseas Ltd, one for owning assets beyond his known sources of income, and inquiries into his involvement in the Park View Housing Society, River Age Housing Society, and Multan Road. It alleges that he acquired assets beyond his known sources of income while misusing his authority as general secretary of the Park View Housing Society and as a past member of the provincial assembly Khan also resigned as Punjab Minister for Local Govt and Community Development after his arrest. He announced to face the case in the court. Prime Minister Imran Khan hailed Aleem Khan‘s volunteer resign following NAB detention and said that everything should be proceeded as per the law. 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). “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.