ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has admitted that he invested $3 million in funds donated to the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust (SKMT) in a housing project, JEE News reported on Sunday.
This disclosure was made on Saturday during the hearing of the Rs 10 billion defamation case filed against Defense Minister Khawaja Asif. The former prime minister appeared in court through a video link from his residence in Zaman Park, Lahore.
Additional Sessions Judge Umid Ali Baloch heard the case. During the hearing, Asif and Khan’s lawyers were present in the court.
The Defense Minister’s counsel – Barrister Haider Rasool – cross-examined Khan, asking questions about the PTI chief’s investment in a private housing project with SKMT funds.
The PTI chief acknowledged the investment of funds in the project, saying that the SKMT board had told him about the investment. However, he said that he could not recall the name of the project now.
The lawyer questioned whether he was informed by the board in writing. To this Khan replied that he did not remember whether it was communicated orally or in writing.
The ousted prime minister said the board members returned $3 million and the matter was closed.
However, Asif’s lawyer said that the matter did not end here, but the matter was just beginning.
He said that when the money was invested, the dollar rate was 60 rupees and when the money was returned, the rate had reached 120 rupees.
Khan said that if the lawyer gets straight to the point instead of asking “funny questions”, the matter can be resolved quickly.
Asif’s lawyer said that he can complete the cross-examination in just two hours during the next hearing.
The former prime minister said that he will inform the court about his availability at the next hearing after seeing his schedule.
Later, the court adjourned the case for further hearing.
On the other hand, PTI Chairman has started consultation for distribution of party tickets to participate in general elections of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assemblies.
In this regard, former speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser met Imran Khan at Zaman Park and discussed the situation after the dissolution of provincial assemblies and the process of ticket distribution.
Instructing PTI provincial organizations to shortlist candidates, Khan said: “I will decide the tickets for the upcoming elections myself. Tickets will be given only to workers who are loyal to PTI. And there will be no compromise on merit.”
