Imran Khan, founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Photo: Archive
ISLAMABAD:
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has finalized its charge sheet in the foreign funding case and named former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan as the main accused. The agency is expected to file the charge sheet in court today (Wednesday).
According to sources, the charge sheet consists of 57 pages and names a total of 11 accused, with Imran Khan being the main accused. The document also includes people like Tariq Shafi and Hamid Zaman. Three suspects have been declared criminals, including Arif Naqvi and Tariq Rahim Sheikh.
The FIA chargesheet states that approximately 1,800 transactions were made in PTI accounts from various countries around the world. These funds were reportedly received under the title “Naya Pakistan”.
Sources further revealed that the defendants face accusations of receiving illegal financing worth $2.1 million. PTI is also alleged to have received an additional $2.1 million from a company called “Wootton Cricket Limited”.
According to the FIA, records submitted by the PTI to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) identified Arif Naqvi as the owner of Wootton Cricket Limited, and the company was allegedly registered in the Cayman Islands. However, the charge sheet states that the company is fictitious and was not found registered anywhere.
Sources added that a special court had directed the FIA to file the charge sheet and in accordance with these directions, it is expected to be filed soon.
Meanwhile, the procedures in
The case continued in an Islamabad banking court, where the
The hearing was conducted by Special Court Judge Abdul Ghafoor Kakar. During the hearing, special prosecutor Wasiq Malik and the investigation officer appeared before the court.
Justice Abdul Ghafoor Kakar asked about the status of the charge sheet. Prosecutor Wasiq Malik informed the court that the document had been prepared in its entirety and would be submitted to the registrar later that day or tomorrow.
The court subsequently adjourned hearing of the main case till April 21 and extended the interim bail of accused Siraj Ahmed and Faisal Qazi till the same date. No arguments could be made on Faisal Qazi’s bail plea due to his absence during the hearing.
Prosecutor Wasiq Malik questioned how the accused could travel abroad without informing the court. The defense lawyer responded that Faisal Qazi runs a private bank in Dubai and travels to Pakistan for each hearing.
In response, Justice Kakar
He stressed that if the accused does not appear at the next hearing, the court will take charge of the matter
respectively. The FIA has already registered a case against the
PTI founder and others accused of money laundering and related crimes.
