The long-awaited verdict in the £190 million case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, will be delivered today.
The judgment, reserved since December 18, 2024, is due at 11:30 am in a makeshift court at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail. Accountability court Judge Nasir Javed, overseeing the case, notified Khan’s lawyers of the schedule.
This case is among many legal challenges facing the incarcerated PTI founder, who has been in prison for over a year following a conviction in the Toshakhana case. The previous hearing was adjourned without a decision after Judge Javed postponed the judgment due to Khan’s absence, which he later cited as an attempt to “pressurize him.” Despite the accusations, neither Khan nor his defence team appeared at the last hearing on January 13.
Background of the Al-Qadir Trust Case
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) accuses the couple, along with others, of misappropriating Rs50 billion (£190 million at the time) received from Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA). This amount was part of a settlement agreement with a property tycoon that the then-Prime Minister approved on December 3, 2019, without revealing the details of the confidential deal.
Read: Judgment in Imran Khan’s High-Profile £190 Million Case Today
NAB officials claim that in return for providing legal cover to the tycoon’s black money, Khan and his wife received land worth billions of rupees to establish an educational institute. Shortly after this agreement was approved, the Al-Qadir Trust was established in Islamabad.
Details of Imran Khan’s £190 Million Case
NAB arrested Khan on November 13 last year in connection with this case and interrogated him and his wife for 17 days in Adiala Jail. The trial began shortly after the NAB reference was filed in December 2023, with formal charges laid against the couple on February 27, 2024.
Notable witnesses included former cabinet members Pervez Khattak and Zubaida Jalal, ex-principal secretary Azam Khan, and the chief financial officer of Al-Qadir University. The court also declared six co-accused absconders and froze their assets and bank accounts.
Read: Verdict Delayed in Imran Khan’s £190 Million Corruption Case
During the trial, the Islamabad High Court granted bail to Khan, while the trial court approved pre-arrest bail for Bushra. Despite submitting a list of 16 witnesses, Khan’s request to summon them was denied.
This case has been overseen by four judges, with Judge Nasir Javed currently presiding. Today’s ruling may greatly influence Khan and his wife’s legal status and the political landscape in Pakistan.
