PHC seeks replies in Swati travel case

PTI leader challenges travel ban amid NAB probe into alleged corruption

PESHAWAR:

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has issued notices to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and other relevant authorities in response to a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Azam Swati seeking removal of his name from the Passport Control List and permission to travel abroad. The court has demanded replies by July 10.

The petition was heard by a two-member bench comprising Justice Sahibzada Asadullah and Justice Dr Khurshid Iqbal.

During the proceedings, Barrister Waqar represented Azam Swati, Deputy Prosecutor General Muhammad Ali appeared on behalf of NAB, and Deputy Attorney General Gohar Rehman Khattak represented the federal government.

Swati's counsel informed the court that his client was offloaded from an international flight at Islamabad Airport despite voluntarily appearing before courts in all cases against him. He argued that Swati, who owns assets worth billions in Pakistan and has no intention of fleeing, has been unfairly included in the Passport Control List.

The counsel further stated that Swati is also a Senate election candidate, with elections scheduled in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on July 21. He requested the court to allow Swati to travel abroad for a medical check-up, assuring the court that he would return to Pakistan before the elections and is willing to provide any guarantees deemed necessary.

The lawyer also claimed that until May, there was no NAB case against Swati, and the current case has only recently been initiated.

However, NAB's Deputy Prosecutor General Muhammad Ali told the court that the bureau is investigating the Kohistan corruption scandal. He revealed discrepancies between the financial data obtained from Swati's bank accounts and his recorded statements to NAB.

He explained that while Swati claimed the funds were proceeds from a property sale, the said property was sold in 2016 for Rs20 million, whereas the contested funds were transferred to his accounts in 2024. This inconsistency is central to NAB's ongoing inquiry, which allegedly involves billions of rupees in corruption.

NAB's counsel further informed the court that several bank accounts have already been frozen as part of the investigation, and Swati's name remains on the Passport Control List due to fears he may attempt to flee the country before the probe concludes.

After hearing initial arguments, the court issued notices to NAB and other relevant institutions and adjourned the hearing until July 10.