Read the Beforeitsnews.com story here. Advertise at Before It's News here.
Profile image
By Dr. Sahibzada Muhammad Usman
Contributor profile | More stories
Story Views
Now:
Last hour:
Last 24 hours:
Total:

Corruption, Misuse of Authority, and the Dubious Bahria Deal: The £190M Case Explored

% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.


Corruption has long been a pervasive issue in global governance, undermining public trust and damaging national economies. During Imran Khan’s tenure as Prime Minister of Pakistan, a significant corruption narrative emerged involving the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and Malik Riaz, a prominent Pakistani property tycoon. The £190 million case, hailed as the largest asset seizure under the UK’s Criminal Finances Act 2017, not only highlighted the misuse of authority but also exposed loopholes in how public officials manipulate legal and institutional systems for personal gains.

The NCA’s seizure of £190 million, alleged to be “dirty money” linked to Malik Riaz and his son, brought international attention to Pakistan’s challenges with corruption. The Criminal Finances Act, which enables UK authorities to target money laundering, demanded that the seized assets be returned to the country of origin as per the United Nations Convention Against Corruption. Rather than facing prosecution, Malik Riaz agreed to an out-of-court settlement with the NCA, ensuring the repatriation of funds to Pakistan while absolving him of legal culpability. This settlement underscored a troubling narrative: the wealthy and powerful can circumvent full accountability by leveraging financial influence.

Imran Khan’s government approved the settlement with the NCA during a cabinet meeting on December 3, 2019. Notably, the agreement’s terms were not disclosed to the cabinet members, who were merely informed that the deal was confidential. By withholding crucial information, the cabinet’s role was reduced to that of a rubber stamp, undermining the principles of transparency and collective decision-making. Instead of depositing the returned funds into the Government of Pakistan’s account, as expected, the cabinet decided to transfer the money to the Supreme Court. This decision was contentious, as it indirectly facilitated Malik Riaz’s settlement of a separate fine imposed by the Supreme Court for land-grabbing violations.

This maneuvering further complicated the ethical landscape. By channeling the funds to the Supreme Court, Imran Khan’s administration provided a legal shield to Malik Riaz, reinforcing the perception that Pakistan’s elite can escape accountability through strategic settlements.

Shortly after the cabinet’s approval, the Al-Qadir Trust was established, ostensibly to build an educational institute. However, the trust’s creation raised significant questions about its true purpose. Land worth billions of rupees, initially transferred by Malik Riaz to Zulfi Bukhari, a close aide of Imran Khan, was later donated to the trust. Interestingly, the trust was registered in the names of Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, and an associate, Farah Gogi. This timeline suggests that the trust was a calculated move to retroactively legitimize the land transfer and obscure its connections to personal gains.

According to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the Al-Qadir Trust deal constituted a misuse of authority, resulting in significant losses to the national exchequer. The prosecution argued that Khan and his associates had orchestrated a scheme to legalize Malik Riaz’s illicit wealth in exchange for personal benefits disguised as philanthropic endeavors.

Imran Khan’s response to the allegations epitomized the challenges of prosecuting white-collar crimes. Khan delayed court proceedings for over a year by evading court appearances and employing procedural tactics. Ultimately, he was declared an absconder until his arrest in May 2023. Despite his legal team’s efforts to dismiss the case on technical grounds, the circumstantial evidence—coupled with the absconding of key associates like Zulfi Bukhari, Shahzad Akbar, and Farah Gogi—painted a damning picture.

Khan’s defense rested on two primary arguments. First, he claimed that the cabinet, not he personally, had approved the decision to deposit the NCA funds into the Supreme Court account. However, this defense ignored the fact that the cabinet was misled and denied access to vital information. Second, he argued that the proceeds of the deal had benefited a trust, not him personally. While technically accurate, this argument failed to account for the trust’s suspicious origins and its registration in the names of Khan and his close associates.

The prosecution countered that the trust was a pretense to conceal personal gains. The initial transfer of land to a private individual before the trust’s establishment raised suspicions of deliberate planning to evade scrutiny. The NAB further emphasized that white-collar crimes often rely on sophisticated mechanisms of concealment, and the pattern of evasion and non-cooperation by Khan and his associates reinforced the allegations of malfeasance.

Central to the case is the loss to Pakistan’s national exchequer. By facilitating the settlement with Malik Riaz and diverting the funds to the Supreme Court, the government forfeited the opportunity to utilize the repatriated assets for public welfare. Moreover, the narrative perpetuated by Khan in the political arena “the money came to Pakistan, so where is the loss?” ignored the broader implications of legitimizing ill-gotten wealth and undermining the country’s accountability mechanisms.

This case illustrates how systemic corruption, misuse of authority, and manipulation of legal frameworks perpetuate inequality and undermine governance in developing nations like Pakistan. It also highlights the challenges faced by international bodies like the NCA in ensuring that recovered assets genuinely benefit the people of the country of origin. For foreign media, the £190 million case serves as a stark reminder of the need for transparency, accountability, and robust mechanisms to prevent the misuse of public office for personal gains.

As global attention increasingly focuses on combating corruption and money laundering, the Pakistani case underscores the importance of international cooperation and domestic reform. The narrative of the Al-Qadir Trust deal reveals how political leaders can exploit institutional weaknesses to evade accountability, ultimately deepening public mistrust in governance. For Pakistan, addressing these systemic issues is not just a matter of legal reform but a moral imperative to restore faith in democracy and public institutions.



Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world.

Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.

"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.

Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.


LION'S MANE PRODUCT


Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules


Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.



Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.


Report abuse

Comments

Your Comments
Question   Razz  Sad   Evil  Exclaim  Smile  Redface  Biggrin  Surprised  Eek   Confused   Cool  LOL   Mad   Twisted  Rolleyes   Wink  Idea  Arrow  Neutral  Cry   Mr. Green

MOST RECENT
Load more ...

SignUp

Login

Newsletter

Email this story
Email this story

If you really want to ban this commenter, please write down the reason:

If you really want to disable all recommended stories, click on OK button. After that, you will be redirect to your options page.