Judge Nasir Javaid Rana, who sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan in the £190 million corruption case, has been transferred from the Accountability Court to the position of District and Sessions Judge, Islamabad West.
The decision was made by Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Amir Farooq, and an official notification confirming the transfer was issued by the Registrar of the Islamabad High Court.
Sentencing in Corruption Case
Judge Rana had presided over the corruption and abuse of power case against Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi. On January 17, after multiple adjournments, he sentenced Khan to 14 years in prison and Bushra Bibi to 7 years. The court also imposed fines of Rs1 million on Khan and Rs500,000 on Bibi.
Judicial Reshuffle Following High Court Appointment
The transfer follows a judicial reshuffle triggered by the appointment of Justice Azam Khan to the Islamabad High Court. His promotion left the District and Sessions Judge West position vacant. Additional Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry had been temporarily handling the role before Judge Rana’s reassignment.
While no official reason for the transfer has been provided, the decision has drawn attention given Judge Rana’s recent verdict in one of Pakistan’s most politically significant corruption cases.
This development comes amid ongoing legal challenges for Imran Khan, who faces multiple cases following his ouster from office. His supporters have viewed his sentencing as politically motivated, while government officials maintain that due process was followed in the case.
