NAB summons Imran in ‘helicopter case’

PESHAWAR: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has issued summon to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan in the helicopter case on July 18.

The accountability watchdog has initiated probe into alleged illegal use of the KP government’s helicopters, causing loss to the national exchequer.

Former KP chief minister had also appeared before the bureau’s team in April in the same case.

PTI’s clarification

In February this year, Khyber Pakthhunkhwa (KP) government had clarified alleged misuse of its helicopters by PTI chief Imran Khan, stating the government-owned helicopters were never used for his personal or private use.

In a statement, the then PTI-led KP government said Khan accompanying the ministers and advisers used those helicopters for the official tours.

“These helicopters were used on 39 occasions in last four and half years,” the provincial government officials said in the statement on Feb 4, 2018.

The statement shared details of 39 official trips, as it was said, that helicopters were used for around 75 flying hours against fuel charges of approximately Rs2.1 million in last four and half years.

The PTI chief participated in different important functions ranging from groundbreaking/inauguration of Billion Tree Tsunami project, the establishment of universities and other projects, the clarification said.