Pakistan: An Anti-Terrorism Court on Tuesday granted interim bail to Former Prime Minister Imran Khan in eight cases till June 8, according to local media. The cases were registered in different police stations of Islamabad against 70-year-old Khan after clashes erupted between police and his supporters when the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party chief appeared before a court in the Judicial Complex on March 18.
The clashes erupted when Khan attended a much-awaited hearing in the Toshakhana corruption case. Established in 1974, the Toshakhana is a department under the administrative control of the Cabinet Division and stores precious gifts given to rulers, parliamentarians, bureaucrats, and officials by heads of other governments and states and foreign dignitaries. Khan, the cricketer-turned-politician, was disqualified by the Election Commission of Pakistan in October last year for not sharing details of the sales.
Earlier, Imran Khan said that there is 80 percent chance that he will be arrested again when he will appear before the court in Islamabad on May 23 to join the probe in the Al Qadir trust case. "On Tuesday, I'm going to appear before the court in Islamabad for various bails and there are 80 percent chances that I will be arrested," the former prime minister said while speaking in an interview with international media, reported ARY News.
Bushra Bibi granted pre-arrest bail in Al-Qadir Trust case
Meanwhile, his wife got pre-arrest bail in Al-Qadir Trust case from the accountability court hours before they were to appear before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case.
What is Al-Qadir Trust case?
According to local media reports, he was arrested in Al-Qadir Trust Case. Notably, Khan, during his tenure promised of setting up a project meant for providing quality education in Jhelum, Punjab.
As per reports, Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi and several close aides-- Zulfiqar Bukhari and Babar Awan-- were involved in the project. In order to fulfil his promise, Khan formed Al-Qadir University Project Trust in which Bibi, Bukhari, and Awan were named as office bearers.
However, a deal was finalised between the then PTI government and a property tycoon, which reportedly caused a loss of 190 million pounds to the national exchequer.
As per the charges, Khan and the others accused allegedly adjusted Rs50 billion — 190 million pounds at the time — sent by Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to the government, The News International reported. They are also accused of getting undue benefit in the form of over 458 acreof land at Mouza Bakrala, Sohawa, to establish Al Qadir University.
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