PTI leader Aleem Khan sent to jail on 15-day judicial remand

LAHORE (92 News) – Accountability Court Judge Najamul Hassan sent PTI leader Aleem Khan to jail on 15-day judicial remand in the assets beyond known sources of income on Tuesday. After the hearing, the authorities shifted him to Kot Lakhpat Jail. The NAB had requested the court to extend the remand of Aleem Khan. Aleem Khan’s counsel stated that they had given all record to the NAB and now there was no need of further investigations. Meanwhile, Aleem Khan has decided to move the Lahore High Court (LHC) against his arrest.

NAB raids Aleem Khan’s office in Lahore

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) raided the office of PTI leader Aleem Khan in Gulberg area. Sources revealed that the NAB officials had seized business documents during the raid. “Important record pertaining to the property and offshore companies of Aleem Khan has also been received,” they added. Meanwhile, the NAB has tightened the noose around the relatives of Aleem Khan. His relative Faraz Chaudhry, friends Numair Hameed Khan and Umar Farooq Manan have been included in the investigations. Sources said that during investigation, Aleem Khan had transferred the money abroad through the account of Numair Hameed Khan. The NAB officials have sought the record of different banks through which the money was transferred. The sources added that Aleem Khan’s close aide Numair Hameed Khan was not cooperating with the NAB. The NAB has also included Imran Anwar, chief financial officer of Aleem Khan’s companies, in the interrogation and directed him to submit the record about the companies. “Aleem Khan told the NAB that he had used only two companies to run his business. According to the record, a transaction of Rs 3.97 billion was made only through Raja Green Farm and Union Green Farm,” the sources quoted officials as saying. The sources said that the NAB had also refused to reply to questions about the business and other details.

Case History

Aleem Khan was arrested for owning assets beyond his known sources of income. He faces multiple inquiries, including one involving offshore company Hexam Investment Overseas Ltd, one for owning assets beyond his known sources of income, and inquiries into his involvement in the Park View Housing Society and River Age Housing Society. The NAB alleged that Khan had misused his authority as secretary general of the Park View Housing Society and as a past member of the provincial assembly, abusing his position to acquire assets beyond his known sources of income. The NAB had in January 2018 sought the record and details of offshore companies reportedly established in tax havens abroad by Aleem Khan and PML-Q's Chaudhry Moonis Elahi. A Mutual Legal Assistance report pertaining to Khan's case was provided to NAB Lahore earlier in January this year, following which the PTI leader was summoned on Feb 6. According to the press release, Aleem Khan had started a real estate business in which he invested tens of millions of rupees. He bought 900 kanals of land and a further 600 kanals of land through a company set up for this purpose, A&A Private Ltd. However, according to the accountability bureau, the PTI leader was unable to show the sources of income with which he purchased the land. The NAB further alleged that Khan set up multiple offshore companies in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Britain in 2005 and 2006, using them to purchase assets that cannot be explained by his means.