Official denies NAB closing probe into Imran’s use of KP copter case

PESHAWAR: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has decided to close the ongoing inquiry against Prime Minister Imran Khan in helicopter scam, but a NAB official insists it was not true.

The PTI chief was accused of illegally using KP government helicopters for 74 hours causing a loss of Rs2.1 million to the national exchequer. However, an aviation expert told this scribe that 74 hours of using the helicopters would cost at least Rs11 million.

NAB sources confirmed that on Wednesday, Bureau’s Executive Board discussed the case and decided to close it accordingly. However, NAB officials who usually speak to media were continuously contacted but they could not answer any call or message. However, a junior officer was available but he, on condition of anonymity, flatly denied, saying that there cannot be any truth in it. However, he said that he could confirm it on Thursday (today) after checking with relevant officials. It was revealed in official documents of provincial government in January, 2018 that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had spent millions of rupees on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairperson Imran Khan's use of the provincial government's helicopters. KP administration department had confirmed that the PTI chairperson used the KP government's helicopters free of charge for a total of 74 hours to travel approximately 18,000 kilometers.

The provincial government recorded in its books a total expense of Rs2.1 million at approximately Rs28,865 per hour for Khan's 40 trips on the two helicopters—an Mi-171 and an Ecureuil. Similar trips using a private helicopter would have cost the PTI chairperson tens of millions of rupees, according to estimates. Khan used the Mi-171 for 21 hours 50 minutes on 12 trips amounting to a recorded expense of Rs1, 270,307. Similarly, he used the Ecureuil helicopter 28 times for a total of 52 hours and 5 minutes, amounting to a recorded expense of Rs836, 875. Imran Khan had used both helicopters for a total of 73 hours and 55 minutes, resulting in an expense of Rs2, 107,181 recorded by the provincial government.

The PTI chief used the KP government helicopters to fly to and from Bani Gala, Islamabad, Mardan, Peshawar, Abbottabad, Haripur, Swat and Nathiagali, Kohat, Batagram, and Chakdara, among other places. However, the KP government claimed that Imran Khan never used helicopter for himself but he must have accompanied the chief minister on these trips.

Later on, NAB had taken notice of illegal use of helicopters by Imran Khan. NAB Chairman Justice (R) Javed Iqbal had directed the KP bureau to conduct an inquiry against Imran Khan and Pervez Khattak.

The KP NB had summoned Imran Khan in misuse of government helicopters scam. Former KP chief minister Pervez Khattak was also appeared before NAB in same case.

The NAB KP had issued a notice to Imran Khan on July 11, 2018 summoning him to appear before a combined investigation team on July 18 but he did not appear due to election activities. Later on, Imran Khan appeared before the NAB office in Peshawar on August, 7, 2018. A questionnaire was handed over to him. The NAB KP had also recorded the statements of five officials of the KP government in illegal use of KP government helicopter.