Disqualification case: PTI chief presenting evidence in ‘piecemeal’, observes CJP

Justice Saqib Nisar asks Imran Khan to prove he did not launder money to purchase London flat, Bani Gala land

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan is presenting documentary evidence in ‘piecemeal’ to establish the money trail of his London flat and Bani Gala land, Chief Justice of Pakistan Main Saqib Nisar observed Thursday.

The CJP made these remarks during the hearing of a petition filed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hanif Abbasi, who sought disqualification of the PTI chief as well as Secretary General Jahangir Tareen alleging non-disclosure of assets, ownership of offshore companies and receipt of foreign funds for the party.

“During the last hearing, you said I seemed angry. No, I am not angry but I want to observe one thing that the documents are being provided in piecemeal,” Justice Nisar told PTI counsel Naeem Bukhari.



The CJP went on to observe that the petitioner’s counsel Akram Sheikh was rightly saying that all documentary evidences should be provided together. “The court wants to satisfy itself that whatever is said by the respondent [Imran] to prove the money trail is true and no money was laundered by him.”

Meanwhile, the top court’s three-judge bench headed by the CJP once again asked the PTI chief to declare the financial source on the basis of which he purchased an apartment in London in 1983. The bench also questioned the mode of payment.

The PTI counsel, however, said the documents will be submitted to the court before the next date of hearing. “If availing the Amnesty Scheme is dishonesty then everyone who got benefit of it should be equally treated,” Bukhari said. “If availing the scheme is dishonesty then I have no case.”