NAB shuts probe against Aleem Khan

LAHORE: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has concluded its investigation into the alleged encroachment by the housing society of Aleem Khan, the President of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), as reported by The News, citing a new law.

The executive board of NAB has stated that the decision to close the investigation against the politician was made in accordance with Section 31-B (1) of the National Accountability (Amendment) Act, 2022.

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Throughout the probe, the anti-corruption authority argued that transforming agricultural land into an urban settlement required official approval, which the project allegedly lacked.

However, it is important to note that the anti-graft body has not ceased its inquiry into the assets beyond means case, in which Aleem remains under investigation.

The IPP leader, formerly associated with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was arrested in February 2019 during an inquiry into the assets beyond means case while serving as a provincial minister in the PTI-led government.

Following his arrest, Aleem resigned from his ministry. At that time, he was elected from PP-158 (Lahore-XV) in the 2018 general elections and served as Punjab’s senior minister for local government and community development, planning, and development.

Earlier, then-prime minister Imran Khan had assigned Aleem the responsibility to lead the party’s efforts in achieving the 100-day agenda. However, differences arose between Aleem and Khan, leading him to part ways with the PTI chief.

In June of this year, Jahangir Khan Tareen, founder of the Istihkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), announced the appointment of Aleem Khan as the president of his newly-formed party—the new home for most Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) deserters.