Secret documents reveal Imran Khan's involvement in £190 million case

A confidentiality deed points out that former premier Imran Khan’s government played a significant role in facilitating the £190 million repatriation case settlement between property tycoon Malik Riaz and the United Kingdom's (UK’s) National Crime Agency (NCA), as it was signed by ex-Asset Recovery Unit (ARU) head Mirza Shahzad Akbar, The News reported on Monday.

Former Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and his accountability czar Shahzad Akbar had denied that their government played any role in the 190 million settlement deal, saying that the agreement was solely between the NCA and Malik Riaz.

At the time of the £190 million settlement case, the respondents and the UK’s NCA signed a ‘Framework Agreement.’ which was signed around the same time as the deed of confidentiality, outlines the settlement’s terms, including the repatriation plan for the seized amount and the sale of immovable property. Through the deed, the Government of Pakistan (GOP) assured that it would keep the agreement’s details confidential and not disclose them publicly.

Clause 2.1.1 of the confidentiality deed stated that the terms of both the deed and the Framework Agreement would remain confidential. Despite Imran Khan's and the head of the ARU's public distancing from the deal between the NCA and the property tycoon, the deed clearly shows their involvement in the settlement.

“The GOP shall not make, or permit any person to make, any public announcement, communication or circular concerning this deed, the Framework Agreement or the Transactions contemplated by the Framework Agreement (announcement) without the prior written consent of the other parties to the Framework Agreement,” noted the clause 2.4 of the confidentiality deed.

“Nothing in clause 2.5 shall prevent the GoP from making an announcement required by law or any governmental or regulatory authority (including any tax authority), any securities exchange or any court or other authority of competent jurisdiction, provided that it consults with the other parties to the Framework Agreement and takes into account their reasonable requests concerning the content of the announcement before it is made,” clause 2.5 reads.

Furthermore, clause 2.6 of the deed allows the GoP to permit a third party to announce if it is correcting or clarifying information about the Framework Agreement that was described differently in another public statement.

Prominent journalist Fakhar Durrani had claimed that Imran Khan, as the country’s PM, repeatedly helped Bahria Town owner Malik Riaz travel abroad despite being placed on the Exit clControl List (ECL).

“Malik Riaz’s name was on the ECL on Supreme Court orders. […] however, from March 2019 to March 2022, Imran Khan facilitated Riaz by granting him special permission [to travel abroad] 20 times,” Durrani said in a video on his YouTube channel on Friday.