Deed Indicates Government’s Direct Involvement in Settlement
Islamabad: Did Imran Khan’s government play a role in facilitating the £190 million repatriation settlement with the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA)? The confidentiality deed signed by Mirza Shahzad Akbar, then head of the Asset Recovery Unit (ARU), suggests direct government involvement.
Key Points:
- The deed bound the Government of Pakistan (GoP) to keep the agreement’s details confidential.
- Akbar, despite his claims of no government role, signed a deed that indicated the government’s involvement in the settlement process.
- The deed grants the GoP the power to manage any public communication or disclosure regarding the agreement with prior consent from other parties.
Akbar initially did not respond to the questions but later asked for time, citing he was with his family and would try to respond the following day.
