Court jails Bahria Town COO for 10-year in Money Laundering Case

ISLAMABAD: An accountability court in Islamabad has delivered a major verdict in the Bahria Town money laundering case, sentencing Bahria Town’s Chief Operating Officer, Colonel (Retd.) Khalil-ur-Rehman, to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs25 million.

The court also ordered the confiscation of all assets owned by the convict, ruling that the properties were acquired through illegal funds and money laundering activities. The verdict was announced by Judge Nasr Minallah under the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2010.

According to the court record, approximately Rs1.6 billion was involved in the money laundering scheme. In its decision, the court described the structured transfer of funds, the creation of financial layers, and the concealment of money through third parties as serious financial crimes.

Investigations revealed that Bahria Town had allegedly been involved in transferring money abroad through the hawala and hundi system since 2007. Evidence presented during the trial confirmed the allegations, according to the prosecution.

The case also mentioned the names of Malik Riaz, Ali Riaz, and Shahid Qureshi, who have already been declared proclaimed offenders by the court.

During the proceedings, the prosecution presented more than ten witnesses along with comprehensive documentary evidence. Despite cross-examination by the defense team, the court declared the evidence reliable and sufficient for conviction.

In an important development, Colonel (Retd.) Khalil-ur-Rehman was not present in court when the verdict was announced and reportedly managed to evade arrest.

Court records and investigation reports also revealed the assets registered in the name of the convict. These include six vehicles consisting of three Toyota Corolla cars, two Toyota Land Cruisers, and one Mercedes. The investigation also identified several properties, including 330 kanals of land in Gujar Khan, a one-kanal property in Bahria Town, an eight-marla property in DHA Quetta, a ten-marla plot in DHA Gujranwala, and a one-kanal property in DHA Peshawar. Additionally, two apartments, including a two-bedroom and a four-bedroom flat in Karachi, were also listed among his assets.

Financial investigations further revealed that the accused maintained six bank accounts in Askari Bank, Allied Bank, and Meezan Bank.

In its remarks, the court stated that money laundering and the illegal transfer of funds through hawala and hundi networks pose a serious threat to Pakistan’s financial system and economy. The court emphasized that strict legal action against such crimes is necessary to protect the country’s economic stability.