Money trails by Imran, Tareen ambiguous: SC

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on Tuesday once again raised questions over the authenticity of documents submitted so far by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and Secretary General Jahangir Tareen to establish their money trails, and observed that the documents of both the leaders still carried ‘inconsistencies’. A three-member Supreme Court bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and comprising Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Faisal Arab, is hearing a petition filed by PML-N leader Hanif Abbasi. Abbasi has sought disqualification of PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Secretary General Jahangir Tareen for non-disclosure of their assets, ownership of offshore companies, and PTI being a foreign-aided party. Naeem Bukhari, counsel for Imran Khan, submitted two miscellaneous applications to prove the money trail of 0.1 million pounds. The chief justice observed that since the authenticity of the documents submitted by Imran Khan was questioned by the petitioner, thus it was necessary to issue him notices, adding that the documents should have been furnished earlier. The court then issued notices to Hanif Abbasi on the fresh applications, coupled with new documents submitted by Imran Khan on Monday, giving new details of 0.1 million pounds. The chief justice observed that the money trail still carried ambiguities and discrepancies, adding that there was dissimilarity in the signatures of Imran Khan on some documents as well. He said the record of 0.1 million pounds was being submitted in parts and that too having dissimilarities. He said any record of the sum which can determine whether it was spent on legal fees or otherwise could not be produced as yet. “When Niazi Services Limited (NSL) did not own any property after the sale of London apartment, then how its expenses were met,” the chief justice inquired. Justice Umar Ata Bandial noted that no record of 27,000 pounds out of the total sum had so far been furnished. Naeem Bukhari then contended that Jemima Goldsmith had transferred 93,000 pounds to the account of Imran Khan on May 26, 2003, for the purchase of Bani Gala land and record of that transaction had already been submitted before the court. To a court query, he stated that his client had received the amount in two parts – 40,000 and 42,000 pounds respectively – and that he has already submitted its proof before the court on Monday. The court noted that the total amount in question was 0.1 million pounds and if it is supposed that the record of 93,000 pounds was submitted, even then the record of 11,000 pounds was missing, as the amount received from Jemima comprises 40,000 pounds and 42,000 pounds that makes a total of 82,000 pounds, leaving no record of remaining 11,000 pounds. Later, resuming hearing on the part of petition with regards to Jahangir Tareen, the chief justice observed that the record so far submitted by Tareen did not prove that he acquired 18,566 acres of land on lease for the purpose of farming. He asked Sikandar Bashir Mohmand, counsel for Tareen, to present even a single document which can prove that his client had acquired the land on lease for the purpose of farming. Mohmand, however, contended that the documents pertaining to Jamabandi, cross-cheques, lease deeds and ownership deeds, etc, had already been submitted before the court. To a court query that Tareen did not submit details of taxes on the land, Mohmand contended that the land was acquired on lease, thus only the aabiana, electricity bills and some other expenses had to be paid on it, which were paid accordingly. To a court query, the counsel contended that the owners of the land did not want to bring the issue of lease on record, thus the payments were made to them through cross-cheques. The chief justice, however, rejected this contention of the counsel, saying that no one makes such payments through cross-cheques. He asked the counsel to prove though any document that his client was farming on the leased land. The counsel, however, could not provide any such document. “Do you want that we summon the revenue officer of the area or order formation of a commission to look into the procedure of the lease in the area, where the land of Traeen is situated,” the chief justice asked the counsel. The court directed the counsel to submit the revenue record of the land and adjourned further hearing till today (Wednesday).   Published in Daily Times, October 18th 2017.