Imran seeks more time to appear before NAB in helicopter case

Khan requests appropriate time be granted to join proceedings, preferably August 7

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairperson Imran Khan failed to appear before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and requested to be summoned after the general elections in the case of misusing government helicopters.

A spokesperson for NAB told The Express Tribune that Khan’s application for exemption had been accepted. However, since he was a member of the National Assembly, the new date for his appearance would be decided by NAB's chairman and not the director general as the matter fell under the purview of the central office.



NAB K-P had summoned the PTI leader on July 18 after he was charged with misuse of provincial government helicopters for 74 hours, causing a loss of  Rs2.17 million to the provincial exchequer. NAB has already recorded the statements of former K-P chief minister Pervez Khattak and four senior bureaucrats.



On Wednesday, Khan filed a request for an extension to appear before the Combine Investigation Team (CIT). The application, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, stated that the applicant is unable to appear before the committee on July 18 as he is currently heading a countrywide election campaign.

“It is requested that appropriate time be granted to the applicant to join the proceedings before the CIT after the general elections preferably on August 7, 2018,” the application read.