Sports

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) provides pensions to former Test cricketers based on the number of Tests they have played. As of updates in May 2022 and January 2023, the monthly pension amounts are:
* PKR 142,000 for players who have played 10 or fewer Tests.
* PKR 148,000 for players who have played between 11 and 20 Tests.
* PKR 154,000 for players who have played 21 or more Tests.
Imran Khan, having played 88 Test matches for Pakistan, falls into the highest category. Therefore, he receives a monthly pension of PKR 154,000.
It’s important to note that the PCB also announced that these pension amounts would be increased annually in line with the inflation rate, and in the event of a player’s demise, the pension would be transferred to their widow. However, there have been reports of delays in implementing the annual inflation-based increase due to budget approvals.

Here’s the connection between Malik Riaz and the £190 million case involving Imran Khan—commonly referred to as the Al‑Qadir Trust case:

1. What is the £190 million case about?

• The United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) had seized £190 million from Malik Riaz on suspicion of money laundering. As part of a civil settlement in late 2019, Riaz agreed to return these assets to Pakistan.
• Instead of going directly into Pakistan’s national treasury, the funds were channeled into a Supreme Court account—purportedly to settle a massive fine (roughly Rs 450 billion) imposed on Bahria Town by Pakistan’s Supreme Court.

2. How is Malik Riaz connected to Imran Khan in this case?

• The settlement and fund transfer occurred under the PTI administration while Imran Khan was Prime Minister. NAB accuses him of facilitating the transaction, benefiting Malik Riaz, and bypassing the national treasury. In return, Riaz allegedly donated land (around 458 kanals) to the Al‑Qadir Trust, headed by Imran and his wife, for establishing a university in Jhelum.
• The accountability reference filed by NAB names Malik Riaz, his son Ahmed Ali Riaz, Imran, Bushra Bibi, Mirza Shahzad Akbar, Zulfi Bukhari, and others as suspects, with some declared proclaimed offenders.

3. Why is Imran Khan saying “I will not be a sworn witness”?

• According to a statement reported by FT, Malik Riaz, who currently resides in the UAE, said: “No matter how much you oppress me, Malik Riaz will not testify!” This suggests he is resisting pressure to testify in the case against Imran Khan.

Summary Table

In short: Malik Riaz’s civil settlement with the UK forms the financial core of the case. Imran Khan is accused of enabling the diversion of these funds in exchange for land, and Riaz’s refusal to testify—or become a witness—complicates the prosecution’s case and adds layers of political and legal intrigue.