Imran fails to submit money trail to SC

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan failed to furnish before the Supreme Court the money trail pertaining to his salaries record beyond 20 years while he was playing for English counties.

The PTI chief submitted in the Supreme Court on Saturday his reply in a petition, filed by PML-N leader Hanif Abbasi, seeking his disqualification for alleged non-disclosure of assets, ownership of offshore companies and receipt of foreign funds for the party. The apex court will take up the case for hearing on Monday (July 24, 2017).

"None of the English counties, he played for, maintains salary records beyond 20 years and therefore, none are available”, Imran informed the apex court in his reply submitted before the court through his counsel Naeem Bokhari.

The PTI chief however, said that by 1980, he was the highest paid overseas player in the United Kingdom.

The court was informed that he started earning money while he was a student at University of Oxford, England. “I was selected to play cricket for Pakistan, also for Worcestershire from 1971 and played for Sussex County from 1977 to 1988, Imran told the court saying all payments made to him were income tax deducted at source adding that during his term as a professional cricketer with Sussex County, his contract for each season was a period of not more than 6 months.

The PTI chief said that on account of the number of days spent outside Pakistan to fulfill his commitments with Sussex County cricket and to participate in another international cricketing event, during that period he was non-resident for the purposes of application of Pakistani income tax law.

Imran Khan submitted that he also played for the Kerry Packer series, a cricket competition between 1977 and 1979, for $25,000 per year. Besides his earning, there were also the airfare, boarding, lodging costs and prize money.

Similarly, he said that he also played in Australia for New South Wales between 1984 and 1985 and was paid Australian dollar 50,000 (at that time equivalent to 25,000 Great Britain Pounds).

In 1984, the PTI chief informed the court that he mortgaged a one-bedroom apartment at 165 Draycott Avenue, Chelsea, London SW3 through Royal Trust in the name of Niazi Services Limited saying the purchase price of the Flat was 117,500GB.

He said that the mortgage of the flat was for 20 years and the initial down payment of £61,000 to Royal Trust was made out of his earnings, while playing for Sussex Country Cricket and out of his saving with money from the $75,000 (equivalent to 75,000GB pounds) received from 1977 to 1979 through Kerry Packers series.

“In 1987, I had a benefit year in which I earned £190,000, Imran submitted and concluded that there could be no money laundering at any time and from his teens he was a professional cricketer and was entirely self-sufficient with all his financial obligations outside Pakistan throughout his overseas career,” Imran said in his reply.

Meanwhile, PTI Spokesman Fawad Chaudhry claimed that the money trail for Imran Khan’s Banigala residence was submitted to the apex court.

“Whether it is Nawaz Sharif, Fazlur Rehman or Zardari, they need to submit money trail similar to that provided by Imran,” emphasised Fawad.

He told a media conference here that the documents were submitted after gathering details from London. He made it clear that the party had now allayed the concerns of rival Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

He drew a comparison between prime minister’s children and the PTI chief and asserted that Nawaz’ son had an apartment worth Rs6,000 million Imran owned an apartment, valuing Rs5 million.

Fawad pointed out, in 1980, Imran was the county’s most expensive player and that the cases against the PTI leader would go to the dustbin.

“Imran has submitted his complete money trail along with all documentary evidence to the Supreme Court to explain the purchase of an apartment in London and sources of money involved in it,” he said.

He contended that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif could have avoided embarrassment, which he faced by simply following this example and submitting money trail to justify his stance over London properties and sources through which they were bought.

Fawad claimed the petitions against Imran were destined to be declared as trashed by the apex court since the allegations leveled in these petitions were nothing but frivolous and politically motivated.

He said that the actual case against PTI chairman was over as he had produced all requisite documentary evidence before the apex court. 

Speaking to the media, PTI Senator Shibli Faraz condemned in the strongest terms the raid/break-in on his residence last night. He stated that his house was burgled by unknown persons and several important documents including his letters, tax returns, property papers and documents of Ahmed Faraz Trust were taken away.

Shibli alleged common thieves had nothing to do with the papers, and insisted that the break-in was an attempt to malign him and his party. “Those responsible for the theft wanted to get their hands on documents that could be used to defame and blackmail me and the PTI,” he claimed. He warned that such kind of malicious and revengeful acts would not deter him or his party.

Deputy Secretary General Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Murad Saeed lashed out at PML-N stated that there won’t be any case against Imran if he did not raise the issue of PanamaLeaks.

Meanwhile, PTI leader Babar Awan expressed grave concern over the formation of special board of doctors for Zafar Hijazi. “The intention behind the fake story of ill health is to protect Zafar Hijazi from prosecution/investigation, said Babar.

Babar stated that Zafar Hijazi tried to rescue ‘godfather’ through tampering with the SECP record. “The medical board comprises handpicked members and removal of the doctors who initially examined Zafar Hijazi is a dubious and shameful act,” he alleged.

“Interior Minister should bring into open whether he ordered FIA to rescue Zafar Hijazi”, he said and added that the attempts by the prime minister to veil his evil deeds through state institutions would not go even handed and he added that soon after Zafar Hijazi other actors, who helped Nawaz and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in plundering nation’s wealth also be put behind bars.

PTI's Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan slammed Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif for attacking Imran and said that it was correct that Nawaz had given details of the assets of three generations but all three turned out to be corrupt and each one had its share in loot and plunder of the national wealth.

She claimed Asif would not only be wiped out of national politics but he would not find space even in Sialkot for doing politics.