Imran Khan named principal accused in FIA foreign funding case chargesheet

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has completed its chargesheet in the foreign funding case and named former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan as the principal accused, according to details presented during court proceedings and information cited in the case record.

According to the details, the chargesheet runs to 57 pages and names 11 accused in total. Among those listed are Imran Khan, Tariq Shafi and Hamid Zaman. Three suspects have been declared proclaimed offenders, including Arif Naqvi and Tariq Rahim Sheikh.

The FIA is expected to submit the chargesheet before the court on Wednesday. The development came after a special court directed the agency to file the document, and the FIA prepared it in compliance with those instructions.

Allegations in the chargesheet

According to the FIA's chargesheet, around 1,800 transactions were made into PTI accounts from different countries. The funds were allegedly received under the title Naya Pakistan.

The accused are facing allegations of receiving illegal funding amounting to $2.1 million. It is further alleged that PTI received another $2.1 million from a company identified as Wootton Cricket Limited.

The FIA says records submitted by PTI to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) identified Arif Naqvi as the owner of Wootton Cricket Limited, and that the company was said to be registered in the Cayman Islands. However, the chargesheet alleges that the company is fictitious and was not found to be registered anywhere.

The FIA has already registered a case against the PTI founder and others on charges including money laundering and related offences.

Court proceedings

Proceedings in the matter continued at a banking court in Islamabad, where Special Court Judge Abdul Ghafoor Kakar heard the case. Special Prosecutor Wasiq Malik and the investigation officer appeared before the court.

During the hearing, Judge Kakar asked about the status of the chargesheet. Prosecutor Wasiq Malik told the court that the document had been fully prepared and would be submitted to the registrar either later in the day or by the following day.

The court then adjourned the main hearing until April 21. It also extended the interim bail of accused Siraj Ahmed and Faisal Qazi until the same date.

Arguments on Faisal Qazi's bail plea were not presented because he was absent from the hearing. Prosecutor Wasiq Malik questioned how the accused could travel abroad without informing the court.

In response, defence counsel told the court that Faisal Qazi heads a private bank in Dubai and travels to Pakistan for each hearing. Judge Kakar then remarked that if the accused does not appear at the next hearing, the court will take up the matter accordingly.

The case is part of the FIA's proceedings related to alleged foreign funding and money laundering involving PTI and several individuals named in the investigation.