Supreme Court issues notice to Imran Khan over Bani Gala money trail

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notices to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and his party over issues related to the money trail surrounding the purchase of the PTI chief’s estate in Bani Gala.

The three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, was conducting hearing of a petition filed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hanif Abbasi regarding ‘foreign funding’ of the PTI.

During the course of the hearing, the chief justice stated that Imran Khan has to prove the money trail for the purchase of the Bani Gala land.

Naeem Bukhari, the PTI chief’s counsel, informed the court that Imran’s then wife Jemima Khan had gifted the land to him verbally.

However, the bench was not satisfied with this response and sent notices to the PTI chief to explain his position in person.

The court, in its notice, inquired which of the two took place first, the formation of Niazi Services Limited or the purchase of London flat. The chief justice told Bukhari that he will have to prove the source of money and failure to do so will have its consequences.

The hearing was then adjourned till Wednesday (tomorrow). 

On Monday evening, the PTI chief took to social media to give his two cents on the issue.

In a series of messages on Twitter,  the PTI chief claimed his innocence, detailing the 'legit' money trail for the Bani Gala land purchase.