By Amir Shehzad
The decision on the £190 million case involving former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder, Imran Khan, and his wife, Bushra Bibi, has been postponed for the third time. The ruling is now scheduled to be delivered on Friday, January 17, 2025. The decision has raised significant concerns within PTI circles and sparked a wave of political commentary from both the ruling government and the opposition.
On January 13, 2025, Judge Nasir Javed Rana of the accountability court provided insights into the delays, explaining that he had arrived early at the court at 8:30 AM but could not deliver the verdict as scheduled on January 6 due to being in training. He emphasized that the decision was ready and signed, awaiting delivery. However, despite the court’s readiness, Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi failed to attend the session, leading to yet another postponement.
During the proceedings at the Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, the court was visited by various figures, including Imran Khan’s sisters, Aleema Khan and Azma Khan, as well as PTI leaders. Despite their presence, the PTI leadership, including the former Prime Minister and his wife, did not appear. This lack of attendance resulted in the further delay of the decision, which is now set for January 17, 2025.
Judge Rana, who had arrived at the jail at 8:30 AM, noted that he had sent two separate notifications to Imran Khan, urging him to attend court. Despite these efforts, both Imran Khan and his wife were absent. The judge expressed his disappointment at the delay caused by their absence, and the case was adjourned once more.
Following the adjournment, Bushra Bibi arrived at the jail but did not enter the courtroom, instead leaving without attending the proceedings. This refusal to attend the hearing has further fueled political speculation surrounding the case.
The £190 million case, also known as the Al-Qadir Trust case, involves allegations that Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi, during their tenure in power, illegally obtained significant assets, including billions of rupees and hundreds of acres of land from Bahria Town Ltd. in exchange for legitimizing £50 billion sent to the Pakistani government by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA). The case centers around the alleged illegal acquisition and construction of land for the Al-Qadir University, an educational institution linked to the Khan family.
The allegations against Imran Khan include claims that he concealed details of a settlement agreement with the NCA, which led to the acquisition of significant amounts of money and property. The money, allegedly received as part of a settlement agreement, was supposed to be deposited into the national treasury but was instead adjusted against Bahria Town’s outstanding dues amounting to 450 billion rupees. This case is one of the largest financial references in Pakistan’s history.
The case was registered in December 2023, and charges were expected to be formally presented against the accused on February 27, 2024. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has called 35 witnesses during the trial, although no witnesses have been presented by the defense. Despite this, the defense team has continued to challenge the case, raising concerns about its fairness and legitimacy.
The key witnesses include former Principal Secretary Azam Khan, former Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, and Zubaida Jalal. Several judges have rotated through the case, with investigative officer Mian Omar Nadeem facing extensive cross-examination over 38 hearings. The court has provided the defendants 15 opportunities to present their defense, but they have failed to bring forth any witnesses to support their claims.
Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi’s pre-arrest bail applications were granted by the Islamabad High Court and the accountability court, respectively. Their application for acquittal was also rejected by the high court, with the court granting discretion to the trial court regarding the final decision. Additionally, the trial court rejected a request by the defense to summon 16 witnesses as judicial witnesses.
In response to the repeated delays, PTI leaders have voiced concerns about the fairness of the trial and the timing of the decision. Asad Qaiser, a senior PTI leader, raised alarms following press conferences by government officials, particularly those of Defense Minister Khawaja Asif and Talal Chaudhry. Qaiser suggested that these officials appeared to have prior knowledge of the case’s outcome, indicating possible political manipulation of the judicial process.
He emphasized that the trial was not conducted fairly and that it represented a politically motivated attack on PTI. He further pointed out that the government had been preparing for a controversial constitutional amendment, specifically the 26th Amendment, which could potentially undermine judicial independence and prevent a fair verdict. According to Qaiser, the government’s efforts to influence the judiciary reflected a disregard for justice and the rule of law.
The PTI leadership also expressed their dissatisfaction with the timing of the verdict, with the anticipation of a decision that would have significant implications for Imran Khan and his political future. Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, expressed frustration at the delay, stating that the PTI founder would not be pleased with the postponement, as he wanted the case to be resolved quickly and transparently.
In a statement following the hearing, Aleema Khan questioned the motives behind the delays, suggesting that the ruling government was under intense pressure due to the international and national scrutiny surrounding the case. She also noted that Imran Khan had previously called for judicial inquiries into the events of May 9 and November 26, hinting at larger political challenges facing the PTI leadership.
The ruling government, represented by the Minister of Information for Punjab, Azma Bukhari, did not hold back in criticizing the PTI’s stance on the case. Reacting to statements by PTI leaders, Bukhari argued that the delay was due to the absence of the defendants and their failure to attend court despite the court’s efforts to proceed with the trial.
Bukhari further lashed out at PTI, accusing the party’s leadership of evading justice and continuing to make baseless accusations against the government. She ridiculed the defense’s claim that no personal gain had been made by the PTI leaders from the alleged illegal activities, calling it a false narrative. Bukhari contended that the transfer of illicit funds, land, and assets to PTI leaders was a clear case of corruption and money laundering, highlighting the contrast between the PTI’s rhetoric on corruption and the actions of its leadership.
She also drew parallels between the PTI’s actions and the actions of other political parties, alleging that Imran Khan and his associates had used philanthropic institutions, such as the Shaukat Khanum Hospital and the Al-Qadir University, to disguise illegal financial transactions. Bukhari’s remarks painted the PTI leadership as hypocrites who had long accused their political opponents of corruption, only to find themselves caught in similar scandals.
The delay of the verdict in the £190 million case is not only a matter of legal proceedings but also a political issue that is likely to influence Pakistan’s political landscape in the coming months. With elections on the horizon, the outcome of this high-profile case could have lasting ramifications for Imran Khan and his political career.
As the trial continues, political analysts and legal experts will be closely monitoring the developments, looking for signs of judicial independence or potential interference from political forces. The January 17 decision will be pivotal in shaping the future of PTI, its leadership, and the ongoing battle between the ruling government and the opposition party.
In conclusion, the case is emblematic of the deepening political and legal challenges facing Pakistan’s leadership, and its resolution will likely have profound consequences for the country’s political climate. Both PTI and the government appear to be preparing for a prolonged and contentious battle, with the potential for further delays and political fallout as the case unfolds.
Source: The COW News