Proof of donation from Jewish, Indian sources to Imran found

LONDON: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif alleged on Saturday that PTI leader Imran Khan had not declared a major donation from “Indian and Jewish sources, facilitated by Zulfi Bukhari” but Imran Khan had actually thanked “Zulfi Bokhari and his friends” for donating to him £150,000 but it’s not clear whether he declared this donation to authorities in Pakistan or not.

This reporter, on April 16, 2016, covered the arrival of Imran Khan at central London’s upmarket Nobu Club but Zulfi Bukhari’s private security didn’t let anyone enter the premises where around 50 guests had arrived by invitation only. Invitation cards were sent out by Imran Khan’s friend Zulfi Bukhari, who had property business in central London, and a copy of that invitation card is available.

Indian steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal’s son-in-law Amit Bhatia, Peter Virdee, Nirbhay Lalvani, and Jamie Reuben, one of the richest Jewish businessmen and property tycoons in UK, attended the dinner and made donations. Some guests had arrived in diplomatic cars.

Imran Khan had tweeted a day after event: “I want to thank Zulfi Bokhari & his friends in London for contributing £150,000 towards Namal College.” Imran Khan didn’t mention anything about the “friends” who gave him money. Here’s the tweet of Imran Khan: https://twitter.com/imrankhanpti/status/721691824402931712?lang=en-gb

But those donated money took to social media and confirmed attending the dinner and making donations. Speeches were made at the dinner by all the donors.

One of the donors, Professor Peter Virdee, publicised the details on his website and published pictures of himself and Lakshmi Mittal’s son-in-law Amit Bhatia with PTI leader.

https://www.petervirdee.com/charity-dinner-with-imran-khan-in-aid-of-namal-college/ Peter Virdee, subject of criminal fraud investigations, wrote that he was happy to host the event. He thanked on his website “fellow hosts, Mohammed Amersi, Amit Bhatia and Syed Bukhari” for “an evening of wonderful food and delightful company”.

He said on his website: “The select list of just 50 guests raised £150,000 in less than 3 hours, a fantastic achievement that will help the college continue offering financial assistance to undergraduates from rural and less privileged backgrounds.”

Amit Bhatia tweeted: Such a great night supporting Imran Khan with my brothers Syed Bukhari and Peter Virdee”.

Zulfi Bukhari replied to him: “I love you both! True brother can’t thank you enough!”

It has been already reported that meetings prior to 2014’s dharna took place in Zulfi Bukhari’s premises in London, amongst two other places, in what’s now known as “London Plan”. 

Amit Bhatia, steel billionaire Lakshmi Mittal's son-in-law, runs investment businesses and considered close to the Indian government. He played leading role in arranging welcome reception for Modi when he visited UK last year. He is a close friend of Zulfi Bukhari and Zac Goldsmith. Jewish business tycoon Jamie Ruben and Zulfi Bukhari have done business ventures together and Zulfi Bukhari also arranged fundraising dinners for Zac Goldsmith when he stood against Sadiq Khan for London mayoral race.

On January 13, 2017, Scotland Yard arrested Peter Singh Virdee at Heathrow Airport and accused him of £100m tax scam on a European arrest warrant with request for extradition to Germany. Prosecutors in Germany allege Mr Virdee was one of the “central organisers” of a criminal enterprise to defraud the authorities of VAT on carbon credits under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. He secured his bail after paying £150,000.

The German authorities have formally requested his extradition. Mr Virdee, who claims he has global assets of over £4 billion, is accused of operating a so-called “VAT carousel” scheme on EU carbon credits, under which traders export the credits from one member state to another in order to take advantage of EU VAT rules.