Questions Arise Over Imran Khan’s Government’s Role in £190 Million Property Tycoon Case

Islamabad:Serious questions have emerged regarding whether the Imran Khan-led government assisted in the repatriation of £190 million from a property tycoon to Pakistan, following a “Confidentiality Agreement” signed by Asset Recovery Unit (ARU) head Mirza Shehzad Akbar.

According to the agreement, which has surfaced, the government’s direct involvement in the case is indicated. The agreement mentions the Supreme Court registrar’s account and ensures that the details remain confidential unless legally required to be disclosed. This raises concerns about the government’s collaboration with the tycoon, especially during the settlement of the case when a “Framework Agreement” was signed between the tycoon and the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA).

The government of Pakistan reportedly assured that the details of the agreement would remain undisclosed. Shehzad Akbar has repeatedly denied any role of the Imran government, claiming that the deal was purely between the property tycoon and NCA. However, the confidentiality agreement, signed by Akbar himself, clearly indicates that the Imran administration was fully involved.

A copy of the confidentiality agreement, reviewed by *The News*, reveals Shehzad Akbar’s signature on clause 2.1.1, confirming that the terms of both the confidentiality agreement and the framework deal would remain secret. Clause 2.4 further states that Pakistan’s government would not disclose any details of the framework agreement without mutual consent. This suggests that ARU not only was a party to the agreement but also had knowledge of the framework’s details.

Despite Shehzad Akbar’s claims of no government involvement, the agreement provides a different picture, indicating that the Imran Khan administration was deeply involved in the deal, despite continued denials from government officials.

In addition to the confidentiality agreement, the Imran Khan government is said to have granted the tycoon permission to travel abroad multiple times. The tycoon was granted permission to leave Pakistan on 20 occasions, and on March 30, 2022, just days before Imran Khan’s government was ousted through a vote of no-confidence, the tycoon was given an 8-week international travel allowance.

This assistance is further reflected in Shehzad Akbar’s visits to the UK, where he traveled alongside the tycoon during the period from August 2018 to December 2019, when the NCA was investigating the tycoon’s assets and financial dealings. On several occasions, Akbar and the tycoon were together in the UK, indicating government involvement in the matter.

*The News* also reached out to Rana Sanaullah, former Interior Minister under the PDM government, to confirm whether the name of the property tycoon had been removed from the Exit Control List (ECL) by the Shehbaz Sharif government. Sanaullah expressed uncertainty and called for confirmation.

In response to inquiries from *The News*, Shehzad Akbar initially did not reply to detailed questions regarding the agreement. However, he later responded, stating that he was out of the country with family and would review the questions and respond accordingly the following day.