Aik News:An accountability court in Islamabad has sentenced Bahria Town Limited’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), retired Colonel Khalil-ur-Rehman, to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment after finding him guilty in a major money-laundering case involving around Rs1.6–1.7 billion.

In a significant verdict, the accountability court ruled that Khalil-ur-Rehman, a close associate of property tycoon Malik Riaz and the COO of Bahria Town Limited, was involved in laundering approximately Rs1.7 billion through illegal financial channels.

The court sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment, imposed a fine of Rs25 million, and ordered the confiscation of his illegally acquired properties.

According to the judgment, the accused transferred large amounts of money abroad through the illegal hawala/hundi system, which the court said caused serious damage to the country's financial system.

The case was registered in August 2025 under FIR No. 19/25 by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Islamabad Circle under Sections 3 and 4 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

During the trial, the court reviewed documentary evidence and heard testimonies from 12 witnesses. Despite several delaying tactics, the trial was completed in less than six months.

Officials said this is the first money-laundering trial conducted by the FIA Islamabad Circle that has reached a logical conclusion.

In the same case, property tycoon Malik Riaz, Ali Riaz, Shahid Qureshi, and several others have already been declared proclaimed offenders by the court.

The verdict sends a clear message that financial crimes, including illegal money transfers through hawala and hundi, will face strict legal action and that influence or power cannot shield individuals from the law.