PESHAWAR: The National Accountability Bureau on Friday again summoned the prime minister-in-waiting Imran Khan to appear before an investigation team on August 7 (Tuesday) in an ongoing inquiry for allegedly using the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s helicopters when his party was in power in the province.

Previously, the bureau had summoned him on Jul 18, but due to his engagements in the general elections he did not turn up and instead requested that another date for his appearance may be fixed after the elections preferably on August 7.

The earlier notice was issued to him on Jul 11, asking him to appear before the CIT (combined investigation team) in connection with the said inquiry.

However, an application was submitted to the NAB by him through law firm Babar Awan and Associates, seeking more time for appearance.

Some government servants and former KP chief minister Pervez Khattak have already appeared before the CIT in the same inquiry.

NAB Chairman retired Justice Javed Iqbal had, a few months ago, taken notice of the issue when it was highlighted by a section of print and electronic media and had directed the NAB, KP to inquire into the allegations leveled against the PTI chief.

The NAB had alleged there was a documentary evidence that Mr Khan had paid Rs2.1 million for using an Mi-171 and an Ecureuil helicopter belonging to the KP government for a total of 74 hours, which amounts to Rs28,000 spent for every hour the helicopters were used.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2018