Bahria Town COO gets 10-year jail term in laundering case

ISLAMABAD: An accountability court in Islamabad has sentenced retired Colonel Khalilur Rehman, Chief Operating Officer of Bahria Town Limited, to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment after finding him guilty in a major money laundering case involving nearly Rs1.6–1.7 billion. The court also imposed a Rs25 million fine and ordered the confiscation of illegally acquired properties.

The verdict was announced by Accountability Court Judge Nasrullah Malik after examining documentary evidence and statements from 12 witnesses. The court observed that transferring funds abroad through illegal hawala and hundi networks constitutes a serious offence that undermines the country’s financial system. Authorities reiterated their commitment to strict action against such financial crimes.

According to the investigation, funds linked to Bahria Town were allegedly moved abroad through informal channels starting in 2007. The Federal Investigation Agency conducted the probe and registered multiple cases before bringing the matter to court, presenting evidence that pointed to a pattern of unlawful financial transfers.

The case was registered in August 2025 under FIR No. 19/25 under Sections 3 and 4 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act. Despite several attempts to delay the proceedings, the court completed the trial in under six months. Officials described it as the first money laundering case from the FIA Islamabad Circle to reach a final judgment.

In the same case, property tycoon Malik Riaz, along with Ali Riaz, Shahid Qureshi, and others, has already been declared proclaimed offenders by the court. The ruling underscores that individuals cannot avoid legal accountability through influence or evasion.