£190m reference against Imran, Bushra: Six witnesses record statements, two cross-examined

ISLAMABAD: Six witnesses have recorded their statements and two have been cross-examined in the 190 million pounds reference against PTI founder Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi.

Accountability Court Judge Nasir Javed Rana heard the case in the Adiala jail on Tuesday. Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were presented before the court. NAB officials appeared in the court besides the lawyers of Imran and Bushra, Usman Riaz Gul and Chaudhry Zaheer Abbas. The court recorded the statements of six more witnesses in the reference and the lawyers completed the cross-examination of two witnesses. The court then adjourned the hearing till April 29.

So far, the statements of 21 witnesses have been recorded and the cross-examination of 15 has been completed in the reference.

Talking informally to the media in the courtroom, Imran Khan said democracy was based on supremacy of law and fair elections. The by-elections in Punjab have been fought by police. The by-elections were also held in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. There is no democracy in the country. Elections were postponed only to crush the PTI, even their petition in the Supreme Court was not heard because they were also waiting for the PTI to be crushed. Every tactic was used, morality in the country was destroyed and the majority was converted into a minority.

If overseas Pakistanis invest in the country, there will be no need for the IMF, overseas Pakistanis do not invest money here because there is no security for them, democracy is necessary for a stable government which is possible only through transparent elections.

The current set-up of the country is harming the future of Pakistan.

“No one talked to me about any deal nor did I get any message. If people stand on one side, can anyone win? I have been locked in a room, cases have been registered against my three sisters. Maryam Nawaz and Benazir Bhutto were in politics. My wife has nothing to do with politics. The PTI government had good relations with Saudi Arabia, that’s why during our time, the OIC Foreign Ministers Conference was held in the country,” Imran said.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, talking to the media outside the Adiala jail, said 21 witnesses had testified in the 190 million pounds reference. Imran Khan will be punished in this case as soon as possible. This case will also prove to be politically based. The PTI founder has expressed surprise over the by-election results, ballot boxes were already full in Punjab, these were predetermined results what the people saw.

Gohar claimed: “The Election Commission of Pakistan did not give us a level-playing field, why are the returning officers and district returning officers not from the judiciary? The Supreme Court of Pakistan heard our petition for reserved seats. Bushra Bibi is alone in Bani Gala. The plants and grass in Bani Gala are not watered, they are being damaged. There should be permission to water the plants. We will hold a lawyers convention, one point of which will be the rule of law. We are appealing to all that on Friday, there will be a peaceful protest in all constituencies, only for Pakistan and the PTI. Bushra Bibi’s endoscopy has been done but the report has not come yet. I have been warmly welcomed in Gujrat. Bushra Bibi will be jailed for 14 years to humiliate the PTI founder. Imran does not believe in powersharing, he believes in democracy.”