Rana Sanaullah insists Imran Khan arrested under the law

Islamabad: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Punjab President and Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan was arrested under the law, claiming that no torture or violence was done during his arrest.

Rana Sanaullah said that Imran Khan was arrested in a genuine case of corruption, saying that there had been documentary evidences. He also said they directed the chief secretaries of different provinces and the respective Inspector Generals of police to ensure law and order situation in their jurisdictions.

“I challenged Imran Khan to give reply about transfer of the land,” said Rana Sanaullah, adding that there had been several cases of corruption against him. He expressed these remarks while addressing a press conference after arrest of Imran Khan in Islamabad.

Responding to a question about Rangers’ deployment, Rana Sanaullah said that Rangers were already deployed in Islamabad and they assisted the NAB for his arrest.

To another question that why others especially the prime suspect of the case were not arrested, the interior minister said that the NAB was investigating the matter and it issued him notices but he instead of appearing before it challenged them before the court.

Rana Sanaullah said that the injuries of Imran Khan were fraud, and therefore, he did not need any wheelchair at the time of his arrest.

He also accused Imran Khan of having alliance with the enemies of the country and some others were also part of his alliance. Imran Khan’s statement,  Rana Sanaullah said, was given on the behest of some one else. He stated that they [PTI] were running a campaign.

“If you closely look at the campaign of the PTI on the social media you will come to know that certain foreign elements are behind him,” said the Interior Minister.

He stated that Naveed Bashir, the suspect who carried out attack on Imran Khan, was genuinely religiously motivated person.  He called Imran Khan liar and rejected all his allegations against the PML-N leader and others.

Rana Sanaullah said the UK’s agencies traced ill-gotten money worth 190 million pounds of a property tycoon, which actually belonged to the people of Pakistan.

He said that 190 million pounds equal to 60 billion rupees had to be repatriated to the national exchequer of Pakistan, but it was adjusted in Supreme Court’s account. 

He said what an irony it was that the apex court did not take notice of the adjustment of this big amount.       

Giving detail of the corruption in the name of Al-Qadir Trust, Rana Sanaullah said over 450 kanal of land situated in Sohawa and another piece of land measuring 224 Kanal in Banigala were registered in the name of this trust.

He said it is worth noting that Imran Khan and his spouse are sole trustees of this property.

He further disclosed that 240 kanal land in Bannigala was registered in the name of Imran Khan’s front-woman Farah Gogi, who was the closed confidante of the then Prime Minister and his wife.

He said in this way Farah Gogi also grabbed seven billion rupees, while another frontman of the former ruler namely Shehzad Akbar also looted two billion rupees.

The Interior Minister said Shehzad Akbar is now absconding in London and Dubai. He said Farah Gogi was involved in transferring 12 billion rupees abroad through banking channels and investigation agencies are also investigating this matter.

The Interior Minister said Imran Khan inflicted a loss of 60 billion rupees on the national exchequer and the National Accountability Bureau is investigating the corruption cases against the PTI chief.

He said NAB had first served a notice on Imran Khan to join the investigation, but he challenged the notice in the high court, which too asked the PTI Chief to cooperate with the investigation agencies and join the inquiry.

He said despite all this Imran Khan remained stubborn and did not appear before the NAB. Consequently, the NAB had to arrest him. 

The Interior Minister said Imran Khan's arrest has been made in accordance with law. He said NAB is an independent institution and government has no influence on its functioning.

Responding to a question about PTI workers' protest against the arrest, he said no one will be allowed to take law into their hands.