SAHIWAL: Special Judge of the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Asif Bashir said on Tuesday that Rs113.1 million corruption charges would be framed against Khawar Manika, ex-husband of PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi, and his two sons, Ibrahim Manika and Musa Manika, during the next hearing on Jan 21.

At Tuesday’s hearing, all the accused, including a patwari, manager from the Auqaf Department, and an excise inspector, were present in court, while Khawar Manika and Musa Manika were exempted upon their counsel’s request.

Khawar Manika and his sons were indicted in corruption cases in a reference filed by the Okara deputy commissioner on Aug 23, 2023.

According to the prosecution, Manika allegedly constructed 26 shops and a marriage hall illegally on a four-kanal plot designated for the Pir Islam Graveyard in Haveli Lakha without obtaining map approval.

The prosecution further alleges that Manika collected Rs26 million in rent from the shops but failed to pay any taxes.

The FIR against Manika and others was registered under sections 409 (criminal breach of trust by a public servant, or by banker, merchant, or agent), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), and 471 (using as genuine a forged document) on the complaint of ASI Iqbal from ACE Okara.

Officials from the revenue, Auqaf, and excise departments are also accused of assisting Mr Manika in “grabbing the land”.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2025

Opinion

Editorial

Going dry
Updated 07 Apr, 2025

Going dry

Authorities should refrain from undertaking any water scheme that infringes on rights of any federating unit to avoid more controversies.
Afghan return
07 Apr, 2025

Afghan return

AS expected, the government of Pakistan is moving ahead with its plan to forcibly repatriate Afghan Citizenship Card...
Hurting women
07 Apr, 2025

Hurting women

MONTH after month, the figures of crimes against women in the country indicate that our society is close to...
Not cricket
Updated 06 Apr, 2025

Not cricket

It is high time that the PCB sets things right; even if it demands a complete overhaul of the system.
Balochistan deadlock
Updated 06 Apr, 2025

Balochistan deadlock

Akhtar Mengal’s demands to release women activists should seriously be considered.
Escalating brutality
Updated 06 Apr, 2025

Escalating brutality

The world’s patience is running out. Israel must be held accountable under international law for war crimes.