Pakistan’s deposed prime minister, Imran Khan (70), is accused of giving expensive state gifts to friends. A Norwegian-Pakistani wanted by the Norwegian police claims to have bought one of the luxury gifts.
Pakistani average in recent days he has been involved in a case involving Saudi Arabia’s reigning crown prince, the country’s recently deposed prime minister, a diamond watch, a gold pen, a diamond ring and diamond-encrusted cufflinks.
In the midst of all this is a man wanted by the Norwegian police for seven years: Umar Farooq Zahoor (47).
On Tuesday, Zahoor appeared on Pakistani television and said he had been allowed to buy what were basically state gifts given to Pakistan by the Saudi crown prince.
You can see an excerpt from the TV interview below:
The seller was said to be a close friend of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Zahoor’s allegation comes as the latest in a series of similar allegations about the abuse of state bounties. In late October, the Election Commission of Pakistan ruled that Khan is denied running for election for the next five years following the case.
The man behind the charge, Umar Farooq Zahoor, is wanted by Norway for what police believe is his role in Nordea’s spectacular 2010 fraud, in which accomplices tapped the account of a wealthy widow.
NOK 62 million of the dividend never materialized.
State Attorney Carl Graff Hartmann is in charge of the criminal case against Zahoor.
– Umar Farooq Zahoor is wanted by the Norwegian police. He is accused of serious fraud and money laundering, Hartmann tells VG.
Zahoor himself denies criminal culpability. The Norwegian police are unable to contact him. He left Norway before serving another sentence for embezzlement.
Today Zahoor lives in the Emirates, which do not extradite him to Norway.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8hA6IzwKB4
Former cricket star Imran Khan (70) ruled Pakistan from 2018 until April this year, when he was ousted in a no-confidence motion in the National Assembly.
His departure was followed by huge protests from his supporters. Khan has tried to force a new election and is fighting court decisions to deny him the candidacy.
Pakistani politics is notoriously turbulent. No Pakistani prime minister has ever completed a five-year term.
For three weeks ago Khan was shot in the leg as he addressed supporters at a campaign rally.
Throughout history, three prime ministers have been killed, most recently Benazir Bhutto in 2007.
Khan denied the allegations as part of a campaign against him, according to the report The Guardian.
Khan’s party, PTI, has announced it will sue Zahoor over his ‘character assassination’, according to Pakistan’s leading newspaper Sunrise.
Khan’s supporters have also questioned Zahoor’s credibility.
While wanted by Norwegian police, Zahoor operated out of Dubai. Among other things, he was involved in a sale of gas turbines how ended in scandalsale of corona vaccine too expensive to the poor country and he has acquired diplomatpass i Liberia.
VG’s article about selling an overpriced corona vaccine is now often shared on social media in Pakistan, often in an attempt to defend Khan.
Attention to Zahoor’s reports was heightened by the fact that a Pakistani investigative journalist, who was in Kenya, shared the story of vaccine sales in a Twitter message in late October.
The day after has become shot by Kenyan police.
The case has also received a lot of attention in Pakistan and its message has now been shared more than 10,000 times.
VG tried to get a comment from Zahoor.
– Talk to my lawyer and don’t call me again, writes Zahoor in a message.
Zahoor’s attorney, John Christian Elden, says he forwarded the request to Zahoor, but has yet to receive a response.
For The newspaper says Zahoor via Elden:
– Who may have done something wrong against this background, the investigation will prove.
Elden adds that Zahoor will cooperate with Pakistani authorities during any investigation.
