NAB summons Bushra Bibi, Farah Gogi in Al-Qadir Trust case

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Rawalpindi has issued summons to former first lady Bushra Bibi and her close aide Farhat Shahzadi alias Farah Gogi to appear before the anti-graft body in the Al-Qadir Trust case involving £190 million.

The Al-Qadir Trust case also involve former prime minister Imran Khan, Bahria Town owner Malik Riaz and others.

The anti-corruption watchdog has asked Bushra Bibi and Farah Gogi to appear before the NAB Rawalpindi on November 13.

The PTI chairman, his wife Bushra Bibi and other party leaders, currently face a NAB inquiry regarding an agreement between the PTI government and property tycoon Malik Riaz. This agreement allegedly resulted in a £190 million loss to the national treasury.

The NAB call up notice issued to Bushra Bibi read, “whereas the competent authority has taken cognizance of commission of offences of corruption and corrupt practices as defined u/s 9(a) and offences defined in the scheduled attached with NAO – 1999. And whereas, On 14.12.2018, the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) freezed approximately £20 Million from the Bank Accounts of two Pakistani nationals i.e. Ahmad Ali Riaz and Mubashra Ali Malik W/o Ahmad Ali Riaz under the UK’s Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.”

The NAB notice further said: “Whereas, subsequently on 12.08.2019, the NCA further froze £119.7 million lying in bank accounts of Malik Riaz family and also 1 Hyde Park Place property under the UK’s Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. The said account freezing orders were secured by National Crime Agency UK at the Westminster Magistrate’s Court, UK under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.”

The call up notice further read: “Whereas, in the note dated 02.12.2019 for the prime minister, it was specifically mentioned in para No. 10 that the funds are to be repatriated to the exchequer in Pakistan but the funds were never transferred to the national exchequer. Whereas on, 03.12.2019, Assets Recovery Unit (government of Pakistan) issued press release in which it was stated that the National Crime Agency, UK agreed for immediate repatriation of funds to the State of Pakistan. Whereas, National Crime Agency also issued press release stating that NCA agreed for repatriation of funds to the State of Pakistan. Whereas, record revealed that instead of repatriation of funds to the State of Pakistan these funds were dishonestly and maliciously adjusted against liability of Bahria Town Ltd. Karachi by transferring the same in the designated account which was maintained by Registrar Supreme Court of Pakistan for depositing the liability of BTLK”

The notice further read: “That during proceedings of the case, you were called upon to appear being acquainted with facts and circumstances of the case with regard to the subject investigation, however, you failed to appear before NAB’s CIT thrice instead through your responses avoided the investigation proceedings on one or other pretext. However, in response to NAB call up notice dated 27.06.2023, you appeared in person before CIT at NAB (Rawalpindi), Islamabad. You were confronted with the available material / record and recorded your response / stance of NAB’s questionnaire duly served upon you at the time of your appearance before CIT. Your response / stance, when examined in the light of available material was not found plausible, hence the instant call up issued to you as an accused to appear and join the investigation before NAB along with original deed of acknowledgment of donation regarding Al-Qadir University Project Trust signed by you with M/s Bahria Town on 24.03.2021 and other documents earlier requisitioned from you vide previous call up notices.”

“In view, that you were called upon to join the investigation as accused on 08.11.2023 however, you requested for change of date vide your letter dated 07.11.2023. Therefore, you are once again called upon to appear along with one male family member on 13.11.2023 at 2pm at NAB (Rwp), G-6, Islamabad before CIT Investigation Wing-ll, to record your plea along with the above mentioned documents/information/record. Please be informed that non-compliance may warrant action under the NAO, 1999.”

What is Al-Qadir Trust case

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan was arrested in the Al-Qadir University Trust case. Last June, the PDM coalition government alleged that Khan and his wife obtained land worth billions of rupees for their trust from Malik Riaz to build an educational institution.

The NAB has alleged that Khan’s PTI government struck a deal with Riaz that caused a loss of more than $239m to the national exchequer, in a quid pro quid arrangement with the real estate tycoon.

In December 2019, Malik Riaz agreed to hand over assets, including properties worth $239m, to United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency in an investigation related to “dirty money”.

Who is Farah Gogi and what are charges against her

Farah Gogi is also accused of selling a state gift worth $2 million to a Dubai-based businessman. The gift, a Graff watch set, was given by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman to Khan during his visit in 2021. Gogi, who was also the personal secretary of Bushra Bibi, is alleged to have used her influence to run government affairs and facilitate the illegal deal.

She is currently in a European country and has denied any wrongdoing. Previously, Pakistani investigators also sought her arrest through Interpol on charges of money laundering and political influence. The case has attracted international attention and raised questions about Khan’s integrity and transparency.