Imran Khan fails to appear before NAB for probe into 'misuse' of KP govt helicopters

E-Paper | December 05, 2025

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday requested the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for time to appear before it in a case pertaining to alleged misuse of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government's helicopters during his party's tenure in the province.

NAB had initiated an inquiry against Khan in February for allegedly using two government helicopters — MI-17 and Ecureuil — for private visits and failing to pay their costs.

According to a NAB report, Khan should have paid the KP government Rs11.1 million, but official documents only mention payments worth Rs2.1m. PTI has rejected the allegations.

Khan was supposed to appear before a NAB investigation team today to respond to a questionnaire prepared by the body, but he instead sent a letter to the team through his lawyer Babar Awan saying that being the "head of the largest political party", he was busy in a nation-wide election campaign and, therefore, could not appear before the team.

He asked the anti-corruption watchdog to grant him "appropriate time... to join the proceedings".

According to the spokesperson of NAB's KP chapter, Salma Begum, the letter was sent to NAB Headquarters from where a formal approval or rejection to the request will be issued.

On Tuesday, Awan had asked NAB to set the hearing of the case on August 8, saying that the PTI chief is busy campaigning for the upcoming general elections and cannot appear before the body.

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Pakistan

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Sohail Ahmed

Jul 18, 2018 06:28pm

I think being one of the leading contender for 2018 elections IK has moral responsibility to come clean before elections. He should have faced NAB is this case investigations to solidify his position being honest!

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F Khan

Jul 18, 2018 06:42pm

So where is the certified Sadiq and Ameen.NAB is asking him for appearance for a long time in this case.He may be busy now but where was he earlier?

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JoeDubai

Jul 18, 2018 06:43pm

Let me translate for you: I am Imran Khan and my job is to make sure the rules apply to everyone else except for me. Now that I am expecting to be PM, you should expect even less from me.

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Sarkar

Jul 18, 2018 06:43pm

You are better than this IK. Go to NAB and be a man.

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Asif

Jul 18, 2018 06:50pm

Sad state of affairs. One does not respect law but tell others to respect law.

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Khaja

Jul 18, 2018 06:52pm

He does not want to be questioned on the misuse of the KP government money because that will have impact on the PTI's election fortune. Therefore, he is applying the old tactic--delay as much as possible.

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Omair

Jul 18, 2018 06:53pm

Let become PM first. Then I'll take care of the cases

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Orakzai.

Jul 18, 2018 07:00pm

I strongly believe khan will appear before NAB after election and will clear all the case.

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F Khan

Jul 18, 2018 07:07pm

@Sohail Ahmed:What honest? He is not appearing in a foreign funding case to ECP for months now because he has nothing to say.Here also he has used the KPK govt helicopter without being in the government which he is illegal.This is what the opposition is claiming that their is no transparency and equality in treatment of IK by NAB and this is fueling the point that elections are being run on a non level playing field.

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Harmony-1©

Jul 18, 2018 07:31pm

@JoeDubai - No need to twist. IK has already been tried thoroughly in SC. He simply requested more time to appear because of elections just round the corner now.

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Jul 18, 2018 08:07pm

Unacceptable behaviour by Imran khan. Should lead by example. Completely the opposite action to what he preaches. Sad

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Suhail

Jul 18, 2018 08:39pm

What is the point of asking a politician in the midst of a rigorous and tough election campaign to appear in front of NAB? NAB should tell IK the dues and to settle them within a deadline and if IK disputes, appear before NAB to defend his position, after the elections.

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Fairplay

Jul 18, 2018 09:10pm

Like all cases pending they could have asked him to appear after the elections.

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Khaja

Jul 18, 2018 09:12pm

@F Khan He never had and will ever have time for any institution to face.

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Khaja

Jul 18, 2018 09:13pm

@Harmony-1© IK was not tried for the KP money misuse

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Zulfi

Jul 18, 2018 09:18pm

Imran Khan makes all the right noises but when it comes to following the rules himself he thinks that he is above the law. This case has been lingering in NAB for months and ideally he should have cleared himself before the election. He did the same with SC hearings in the past. He should be setting a good example by at least attending these hearings

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Reality

Jul 18, 2018 09:54pm

Non Bailable warrant

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moona

Jul 18, 2018 10:31pm

So what's new?

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Sajid

Jul 19, 2018 12:38am

He never said that he will not appear before court! He says every minute till july 25 is ceucial and khan runs his party campaign all alone! He has no beothers, sisters, daughters and sons to run party’s campaign. So he requested NAB to grant him time till july 25! It is very fair i think!

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DR T AHMED

Jul 19, 2018 01:24am

So ladla is lauded and exempted from.any accountability .

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Maria

Jul 19, 2018 03:01am

It took 2 years for Sharifs to appear before NAB from the time Panama leaks came out...IK can can a delay of 3 weeks I suppose..

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Husain

Jul 19, 2018 03:29am

When Zardari is excuseduntil after elections by SC then IK should be given the same advantage.

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Taimur

Jul 19, 2018 03:34am

NAB should decide the case even in his absence otherwise he will keep on delaying it

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Jul 19, 2018 04:20am

he should've appeared....but he has requested a extension through proper channels...but still he should've appeared

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Syed ji

Jul 19, 2018 04:37am

nothing wrong with this.

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Bilal

Jul 19, 2018 05:02am

He is Imran Khan... Above Law and Order..... Who is NAB.. Telling IK to appear in court. Who is behind IK... Pls understand.

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AHAQ

Jul 19, 2018 05:27am

Genuine request and must be provided.

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justice

Jul 19, 2018 06:35am

So much for going against NS for corruptions.

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Nationalist

Jul 19, 2018 06:41am

Putting institutions soft on him to test yet again.

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Truth is truth

Jul 19, 2018 07:55am

@Orakzai. : Let us see. We will see how skillfully he would delay this too like the case of foreign funding case which is lingering since 2014. He has a battery of best lawyers to take care of besides angels.

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