£190m Case Verdict
The verdict in the £190 million case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi has been delayed for the third time. The hearing, scheduled for today, was postponed after neither of the accused appeared in court.
Accountability court Judge Nasir Javed, who had been present since 8:30 AM, expressed disappointment over the absence of the accused and adjourned the verdict, offering them another chance to appear.
This delay comes after the verdict was first postponed on December 23, 2024, and again on January 6, 2025. Imran Khan had previously claimed that the repeated delays were part of an effort to “pressurize him.”
However, neither Khan nor Bushra Bibi appeared in the courtroom today, despite the prosecution team from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), court staff, and media being present.
The case revolves around allegations that Khan, his wife, and others caused a loss of £190 million to the national exchequer by facilitating a deal with a property tycoon through the Al-Qadir Trust.
According to the NAB, Khan and his associates reportedly helped the tycoon adjust a sum of Rs50 billion (equivalent to £190 million) sent by Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to the Pakistani government. This deal was allegedly kept confidential and was later approved by Khan’s cabinet in December 2019, allowing the money to be submitted to the Supreme Court on behalf of the tycoon.
In reaction to the delay, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan refuted any notion that the postponement was part of a deal. He stated that they had been informed by the court staff that the verdict would be announced at 11 AM, and the entire PTI team was ready for the judgment.
Khan described the case as politically motivated, aimed at pressuring the former prime minister and his wife. He reiterated that Khan had neither harmed the national treasury nor personally benefited from the Al-Qadir Trust, which was a non-profit organization, and that he served only as a trustee.
Khan’s legal team and supporters, including PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, emphasized that the delay had no connection to any negotiation or deal.
They stressed that Khan would continue to fight the case in court, as he had in previous legal battles, and maintain his innocence. Raja further clarified that PTI was not seeking any relief through negotiations with the government and would not compromise on the pursuit of justice.
Despite the delays, PTI leaders remain resolute, with Barrister Gohar and Raja vowing to challenge the case in higher courts if necessary, just as they have done in other cases. They maintain that the Al-Qadir Trust case is baseless and that Khan will not back down from his fight for justice, the Constitution, and the people.
