Latest news with #AzamSwati
Express Tribune
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
PHC defers Swati travel plea hearing
The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has deferred the hearing of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Senator Azam Swati's petition seeking removal of his name from the Passport Control List and permission to travel abroad. A two-member bench comprising Justice Sahibzada Asadullah and Justice Dr Khurshid Iqbal adjourned the case until July 29, stating that no interim relief would be granted for now. The court emphasized that granting travel permission at this stage would be equivalent to offering full relief prematurely. During the hearing, Barrister Waqar represented Swati, while Deputy Prosecutor General Muhammad Ali appeared on behalf of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), along with a representative from the Passport and Immigration Department. Barrister Waqar informed the court that Azam Swati was offloaded at Islamabad Airport despite voluntarily appearing before courts in all pending cases. He stressed that Swati has substantial assets within Pakistan and has no intention to flee the country, especially as he is also a candidate for the upcoming Senate elections in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa scheduled for July 21. The NAB prosecutor responded that a major corruption inquiry is underway involving billions of rupees. He revealed that a suspicious transaction of Rs600 million was traced to Swati from an account linked to the Kohistan land scandal. Although Swati claims the funds originated from a 2016 land sale, NAB maintains the money was transferred in 2024, raising serious concerns. The court was also told that Swati failed to provide satisfactory responses to NAB's questionnaire. Justice Asadullah questioned the rationale behind placing Swati's name on the control list based on an ongoing inquiry, not a trial. The prosecutor compared the case to the infamous Ayyan Ali case, warning that premature international travel could hinder investigations, as seen in past instances. Swati's lawyer argued that his client is cooperating fully, has appeared in cases, and previously had his name removed from the Exit Control List (ECL) by the same court. He reiterated that Swati's substantial domestic assets indicate no intent to abscond. The court was also informed that the next NAB appearance is scheduled for July 16. The immigration official clarified that names are added to the list based on recommendations from investigative agencies. Following the hearing, Azam Swati spoke to the media, stating, "If a trial can be filed against my leader and his wife, if Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi could be accused of cattle theft, then surely I can be tried for selling my own home."
Express Tribune
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
PHC seeks replies in Swati travel case
The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has issued notices to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and other relevant authorities in response to a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Azam Swati seeking removal of his name from the Passport Control List and permission to travel abroad. The court has demanded replies by July 10. The petition was heard by a two-member bench comprising Justice Sahibzada Asadullah and Justice Dr Khurshid Iqbal. During the proceedings, Barrister Waqar represented Azam Swati, Deputy Prosecutor General Muhammad Ali appeared on behalf of NAB, and Deputy Attorney General Gohar Rehman Khattak represented the federal government. Swati's counsel informed the court that his client was offloaded from an international flight at Islamabad Airport despite voluntarily appearing before courts in all cases against him. He argued that Swati, who owns assets worth billions in Pakistan and has no intention of fleeing, has been unfairly included in the Passport Control List. The counsel further stated that Swati is also a Senate election candidate, with elections scheduled in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on July 21. He requested the court to allow Swati to travel abroad for a medical check-up, assuring the court that he would return to Pakistan before the elections and is willing to provide any guarantees deemed necessary. The lawyer also claimed that until May, there was no NAB case against Swati, and the current case has only recently been initiated. However, NAB's Deputy Prosecutor General Muhammad Ali told the court that the bureau is investigating the Kohistan corruption scandal. He revealed discrepancies between the financial data obtained from Swati's bank accounts and his recorded statements to NAB. He explained that while Swati claimed the funds were proceeds from a property sale, the said property was sold in 2016 for Rs20 million, whereas the contested funds were transferred to his accounts in 2024. This inconsistency is central to NAB's ongoing inquiry, which allegedly involves billions of rupees in corruption. NAB's counsel further informed the court that several bank accounts have already been frozen as part of the investigation, and Swati's name remains on the Passport Control List due to fears he may attempt to flee the country before the probe concludes. After hearing initial arguments, the court issued notices to NAB and other relevant institutions and adjourned the hearing until July 10.
Express Tribune
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
NAB questions Swati in Upper Kohistan scandal
The National Accountability Bureau Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (NAB KP) has initiated an inquiry into Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Azam Swati in connection with the Upper Kohistan mega scandal. According to sources, Azam Swati appeared before the relevant NAB investigation committee on Friday. NAB officials revealed that a significant amount of money was transferred to Swati's bank account by a private firm allegedly linked to the scandal. The investigation team questioned him for over an hour regarding the suspicious transaction. Swati was also handed a questionnaire by NAB and asked to submit written responses. It is pertinent to mention that over Rs40 billion were withdrawn from the national treasury under the pretext of development projects in Upper Kohistan district. However, no physical evidence of these projects exists on the ground. The scope of the investigation has been expanded, with several officials from the Communications and Works Department, the District Accounts Office, and the National Bank of Kohistan, along with multiple politicians, now under scrutiny. On Thursday, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) barred NAB from arresting Azam Swati in connection with the Kohistan mega corruption scandal. However, the court directed him to cooperate and join the ongoing investigation. The ruling came during the hearing of a writ petition filed by Swati, which was taken up by a two-member bench comprising Justice Syed Arshad Ali and Justice Dr Khurshid Iqbal. It may be recalled that on June 23, Swati failed to appear before NAB in connection with the corruption scandal, despite being served a notice. Instead, his legal counsel appeared on his behalf. Later, he moved the PHC against the notice. According to NAB sources, on June 23, Swati's lawyer was instructed that the senator must appear in person. The lawyer requested a week's extension, but NAB refused the request and instructed Swati to appear without delay. A second notice will soon be issued, NAB confirmed. The initial notice required Azam Swati to appear on Monday as part of an inquiry into suspicious financial transactions linked to the Kohistan corruption case. NAB alleges that Rs300 million were transferred into Azam Swati's personal bank account, raising serious concerns about financial irregularities. NAB is investigating the Kohistan scandal following revelations of widespread corruption amounting to Rs40 billion. The bureau has directed Swati to submit the financial records of Kohistan Associates and Builders, including detailed bank account information. Billions of rupees were reportedly deposited into the company's accounts during the year 2024. The scandal came to light earlier this year, prompting the provincial government to formally request a NAB investigation. Subsequently, a cabinet-level inquiry committee, headed by the Chief Minister, was also formed to oversee the case. In May, the K-P government launched an investigation into the mega corruption scandal in Kohistan district. The scandal came under intense scrutiny during a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), chaired by Speaker of the K-P Assembly, Babar Saleem Swati. Officials from the Finance Department and the Accountant General's office admitted during the session that billions had been misappropriated from government funds.
Express Tribune
23-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Swati skips NAB in Rs40b case
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Senator Azam Swati failed to appear before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in connection with the Rs40 billion Kohistan mega corruption scandal, despite being served a notice. Instead, his legal counsel appeared on his behalf. According to NAB sources, Swati's lawyer was instructed that the senator must appear in person. The lawyer requested a week's extension, but NAB refused the request and instructed Swati to appear without delay. A second notice will soon be issued, NAB confirmed. The initial notice required Azam Swati to appear on Monday as part of an inquiry into suspicious financial transactions linked to the Kohistan corruption case. NAB alleges that Rs300 million were transferred into Azam Swati's personal bank account, raising serious concerns about financial irregularities. NAB is investigating the Kohistan scandal following revelations of widespread corruption amounting to Rs40 billion. The bureau has directed Swati to submit the financial records of Kohistan Associates and Builders, including detailed bank account information. It is worth noting that billions of rupees were reportedly deposited into the company's accounts during the year 2024. The scandal came to light earlier this year, prompting the provincial government to formally request an NAB investigation. Subsequently, a cabinet-level inquiry committee, headed by the chief minister, was also formed to oversee the case. It may be mentioned here that last month the K-P government launched an investigation into the mega corruption scandal in Kohistan district, where an estimated Rs40 billion has allegedly been siphoned off from the provincial treasury. The scandal came under intense scrutiny during a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), chaired by Speaker of the K-P Assembly, Babar Saleem Swati. Officials from the Finance Department and the Accountant General's office admitted during the session that billions had been misappropriated from government funds. While an official embezzlement figure of Rs24 billion has been confirmed so far, PAC members expressed dissatisfaction with the explanations provided by Secretary Finance and the Accountant General.
Express Tribune
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Swati acquitted in 2014 sit-in case
A lower court in Islamabad on Friday acquitted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Azam Swati in a case pertaining to the violation of Section 144 during the party's 2014 sit-in, citing lack of evidence. Judicial Magistrate Mureed Abbas approved Swati's acquittal request in the case, which was registered for breaching Section 144 during the protests. During the hearing, advocate Sohail Khan read out the contents of the FIR and argued that there was no evidence on record linking his client to any violation. He requested the court to acquit Swati, maintaining that there was no legal basis for continuing the trial.
