In a major development, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested on Wednesday PTI Punjab's Senior Minister Abdul Aleem Khan for purportedly owning assets beyond known sources of income. Sources said Aleem was taken into custody after he appeared before the provincial anti-graft watchdog in the offshore company case and having assets beyond known sources of income.
When Aleem failed to satisfy the NAB officials regarding the money trail of his assets after being questioned for two hours, he was informed that he is being arrested for further interrogation, added the sources. The NAB will present the accused before an accountability court Thursday (today) to seek his physical remand.
A press release issued by the NAB stated that Aleem had allegedly misused his authority as general secretary of the Park View Housing Society and abused his position to acquire assets beyond known sources of income.
The statement says that Aleem 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.
During the questioning, the PTI senior leader could not show the sources of income with which he had purchased the land. The NAB further alleged that Khan established multiple offshore companies in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Britain in 2005 and 2006, using them to purchase assets. The NAB is further investigating these companies, added the statement.
The Bureau says that Khan's arrest was precipitated after they found evidence of tampering official records, adding that an investigation of his personal and 'benami' assets will continue as per the law.
In January, a mutual legal assistance report relating to Khan's case was provided to the NAB following which the PTI leader was summoned on February 6 (today). Aleem is facing multiple inquiries including offshore company Hexam Investment Overseas Ltd, and inquiries into his involvement in the Park View Housing Society, River Age Housing Society, and Multan Road.
In January 2018, the NAB sought all the details of offshore companies reportedly established in tax havens abroad allegedly by Khan and PML-Q's Chaudhry Moonis Elahi.