News Desk |
An accountability court on Friday, 15th February extended the physical remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former Punjab senior minister Abdul Aleem Khan for another 15 days, local media reported.
Aleem Khan was presented before the court in a case pertaining to assets beyond known sources of income and offshore companies. An accountability court had on February 7th remanded the PTI leader into NAB custody for nine days. He had been arrested by NAB on 6th February.
The PTI leader had tendered his resignation after being arrested by the anti-graft watchdog on Feb 6. His answers had reportedly failed to satisfy NAB officials during the inquiry which had led to his arrest.
Prosecutor Janjua argued that more time was required to probe into the assets accumulation of PTI stalwart. The court then handed Khan to NAB’s remand till February 25.
As accountability court judge Najamul Hassan proceeded with the case, NAB’s prosecutor Waris Ali Janjua complained of Khan’s non-compliance in the probe. The court questioned why even after resigning, Khan did not want to cooperate with the prosecution.
Then, Janjua requested an extension in his physical remand so they could continue the investigation. He told the court that the accountability watchdog had dug up links to seven people on the case.
He implied that Khan was a common man in 2003, but four years later in 2007, he became a millionaire who owned 35 companies and acquired 100 bank accounts.
Read more: Aleem Khan’s arrest: A balancing act or accountability across the board?
“He was secretary of a housing society in 2000 and three years later, he was elected as a member Punjab Assembly. He bought properties in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), United Kingdom, and Pakistan. But we cannot find the trail of where the money came from,” Janjua stated.
Khan’s lawyer objected that the claims were baseless” as the PTI lawmaker had submitted all documents pertaining to those properties.”
The court then asked as to how was it possible for him to acquire such assets within five years when he was a public office holder. However, Khan’s legal team insisted that the case lacked incriminating evidence and hence, NAB’s request for an extension in remand should be dismissed.
Read more: PTI’s Aleem Khan resigns after arrest by NAB
He also claimed that his client had first been arrested in the case pertaining to an offshore company before NAB added the assets beyond means of income case.
Prosecutor Janjua argued that more time was required to probe into the assets accumulation of PTI stalwart. The court then handed Khan to NAB’s remand till February 25.