Bani Gala estate purchase: SC finds discrepancies in money trail

Chief Justice Saqib Nisar-led three-member bench hearing petitions against PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Jahangir Khan Tareen made reservations over the money trail provided by Imran Khan and asked his counsel to submit complete details of bank accounts of his former wife Jemima Khan to ascertain the mode through which money was transferred to Rashid Ali Khan, Imran Khan’s financial manager at the time of buying Bani Gala property after finding serious discrepancies in money trail provided by PTI chairman for his Bani Gala estate.

Advocate Naeem Bukhari, PTI’s counsel here on Thursday while continuing his arguments said that Imran Khan has been submitting his Income Tax returns since 1981 and prayed the court to summon his tax returns in sealed envelope. ‘In his 1983 return there is no mention of London flats as it is not required to show earning made abroad,’ Bukhari told the court.

Bukhari apprised the court that London flat was bought from earnings made in Australia and UK. ‘Imran Khan has said in his affidavit that he did not own any other offshore company than Niazi Services Limited and the purpose was to save tax and conceal his identity. I am telling this to the court after consulting with my client,’ said Naeem Bukhari.

Justice Umer Atta Bandial asked PTI Counsel that his client has to submit documentary evidence that Niazi Services Limited owned no other property than London flat.

The counsel for PTI chief also presented before the court the record of financial transactions between Imran Khan and his former wife Jemima Khan for the purchase of Bani Gala land.

“According to the submitted details, the money to purchase Bani Gala land was taken as loan by Imran Khan from Jemima,” the chief justice remarked.

However, there is a discrepancy between the amount of loan agreement and the amount paid for purchasing the land in Bani Gala, the chief justice added.

Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar asked PTI Counsel that the amount of Rs 5.7 million was transferred from Jamaica Khan to Imran Khan on January 23, 2003 and Rashid Khan made no payment from his own pocket. PTI counsel said that Imran Khan made the payment on May 7, 2003, on which Justice Faisal Arab remarked that even this date came after Jemima Khan made the payment.

Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar remarked that there was difference between dates when agreement was signed and date when payment was made. To this Bukhari said that it could just be a mathematical mistake.

On knowing that PTI has challenged the jurisdiction of ECP to hear cases pertaining to foreign funding, Islamabad High Court, Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar ordered that all data pertaining to PTI alleged foreign funding be submitted before the Supreme Court. Also the representative of Election Commission of Pakistan apprised the bench that a former member of PTI Akbar Babar has filed an application with ECP where he has accused the party of taking foreign funding. The hearing was adjourned till May 30, 2017.