£190m Case Verdict
RAWALPINDI: After several postponements, the long-awaited verdict in the £190 million case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, is set to be announced today (Monday).
A PTI lawyer confirmed the development on Sunday, adding that the decision might still face another delay. The judgment will be delivered by Accountability Court Judge Nasir Javed Rana at a makeshift court in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail at 11 a.m.
Khalid Yousuf Chaudhry, the PTI founder’s lawyer, shared that the court staff and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecution team have been informed about the announcement.
Initially, the verdict was scheduled for January 6 but was postponed due to the judge’s leave. This marks the second time the decision, originally reserved on December 18, 2024, in the Al-Qadir Trust case, has been delayed.
The case accuses Imran Khan, his wife, and others of causing a £190 million loss to the national exchequer. The allegations involve a settlement between the PTI government and a prominent property tycoon.
NAB claims the former prime minister approved the deal without disclosing its details, resulting in funds meant for the Pakistani government being used to benefit private interests.
As part of the arrangement, Khan and his wife reportedly acquired land worth billions of rupees to establish the Al-Qadir Trust, a purported educational institute.
The case is one among many legal challenges confronting Khan, who has been incarcerated for over a year following his conviction in another matter.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif expressed optimism that justice would prevail, questioning the legitimacy of the Al-Qadir Trust as a university. Conversely, PTI leader Asad Qaiser criticized the proceedings as politically motivated, claiming no substantial evidence was presented against Khan and Bushra.
The trial has witnessed significant developments since NAB filed its reference in December 2023. Charges were formally laid on February 27, 2024, following a series of interrogations.
The court rejected Khan’s request to summon witnesses and replaced four judges during the trial. Prominent witnesses included former cabinet members and officials linked to the trust.
The outcome of this high-profile case is expected to have far-reaching implications for Pakistan’s political landscape.
