Imran Khan's arrest: What is Al-Qadir Trust case?

NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan was arrested from the Islamabad high court’s premises on Tuesday in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case.

Soon after the arrest, Islamabad police released a statement quoting Inspector General of Police Akbar Nasir as saying that Imran had been arrested in relation to the case which alleges that the PTI chief and his wife obtained billions of Pakistani rupees from a real estate firm for legalising a laundered amount of PKR 50 billion that was identified and returned to the country by the UK during the term of the PTI government.

Providing further details during a press conference in Islamabad, interior minister Rana Sanaullah said Imran was arrested by officials of the National Accountability Bureau specifically in the Al-Qadir Trust case, adding that there were “dozens” of other cases with corruption inquiries in progress against the former premier.

Here are some FAQs about the Al-Qadir Trust case:
What is the Al-Qadir Trust case?
The Al-Qadir Trust case is a corruption case involving former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi and their close aides Zulfiqar Bukhari and Babar Awan.

They are facing a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) inquiry related to a settlement between the PTI government and a property tycoon, which reportedly caused a loss of PKR 50 billion to the national exchequer.

They are accused of receiving billions of rupees from a real estate firm called Bahria Town for legalising a laundered amount of PKR 50 billion.

As per the charges, Khan and the others accused allegedly adjusted PKR 50 billion sent by Britain’s National Crime Agency to the government.

They are also accused of getting undue benefit in the form of over 458 kanals of land at Mouza Bakrala, Sohawa, to establish Al Qadir University.

The charges include corruption and corrupt practices.
What is the current status of the Al-Qadir Trust case?
As of May 9, 2023, Khan has been arrested in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case.

The case involves the formation of the Al-Qadir Project Trust, which aimed to set up the Al-Qadir University to impart quality education in the Sohawa Tehsil of Punjab's Jhelum district.

The current status of the case is unclear.

What is the National Accountability Bureau?The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is an autonomous and constitutionally established federal institution responsible to build efforts against corruption and prepare critical national economic intelligence assessments against economic terrorism for the Government of Pakistan.

It was set up and notified under the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999, which was recently amended by a presidential ordinance in December 2022 to curtail the powers and jurisdiction of the NAB.

The NAB is headed by a chairman who is appointed by the President of Pakistan in consultation with the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly.

Who is the current chairman of NAB?
The current chairman of NAB is Nazir Ahmed Butt, a retired lieutenant general in the Pakistan army. He was appointed by the government in March this year.

He served as the 30th president of the National Defence University from April 11, 2016, to December 19, 2016. He also served as Pakistan's military attaché in the US, and military secretary to the prime minister of Pakistan.

He was promoted to lieutenant general in 2014 and was subsequently appointed as inspector general of Communications and Information Technology at the General Headquarters. Before retiring from the service in 2018, he also commanded a military formation in South Waziristan as a major general.
(With inputs from agencies)

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