Rawalpindi: Six individuals including property tycoon Malik Riaz, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Zulfi Bukhari and Mirza Shehzad Akbar along with Farah Gogi were declared “wanted” in the highly-watched 190 million-pound reference hearing.
The accountability court in Adiala Jail conducted hearing of the case on Saturday.
The court proceedings also revealed the involvement of two other figures, including Ziaul Islam Naseem and Ali Riaz.
The Investigation Officer (IO) of the case apprised that court that compliance of warrants could not be happened. After which Malik Riyaz, his son Ali Riyaz Malik, Farhat Shahzadi, Zia Ul Islam, Shahzad Akbar, Zulfi Bukhari have been declared proclaimed offender.
Before this in the hearing of the 190 million pound reference against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi duplicate copies could not be provided after which the process of indictment will be kick off.
Besides that during the hearing an accused Malik Riyaz filed petition for cancelling of his warrants, to which both the parties arguments completed and verdict is reserved.
The accused also filed two separate petitions one for exemption from appearing before the court and his attendance through a video link but the court disposed of both of his petitions.
It is pertinent to mention here that before this Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were not indicted on January 4 and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was contended arguments over the bail petition after which the hearing was adjourned till January 6.
The investigating officer recorded the statements regarding six suspects in the case.
The reference said the “accused […] were given multiple opportunities to justify and provide information, but they deliberately, with malafide intention, refused to provide the information on one or the other pretext.”
“Furthermore, it is established through their responses that they have nothing in their defence to rebut the above-mentioned allegations. Thus, they all have committed an offence” under the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO).
It added that the investigation proceedings and findings so far “established that accused persons in connivance with each other have committed the offence of corruption and corrupt practices” as defined under the NAO.
The reference said Imran played a “pivotal role” in the illicit transfer of funds which were meant for the state, which ultimately benefited Riaz.
Akbar, a former special assistant to the premier and Asset Recovery Unit chief, played a “crucial role” in the “illegal design of the funds” which were meant for the state, the reference said.
Malik, the reference said, had “actively aided, abetted and assisted and acted in conspiracy” with the other respondents for the diversion of funds earmarked for the state.
Bushra Bibi and Shahzadi also played a “significant” and “crucial” role in the “illegal activities”, the latter also a “frontwoman” for Imran and his wife, it said.
The reference said that it was “just and proper” to proceed against the eight suspects, as there was “sufficient incriminating evidence” available to justify the reference.
It pleaded that the eight suspects be tried and punished in accordance with the law by the court or any other to which the reference was entrusted.
