ISLAMABAD: In a significant legal ruling, a court in the federal capital has found Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, guilty in the high-profile £190 million corruption case. The Accountability Court, led by Judge Nasir Javed Rana, sentenced Khan to 14 years in prison, while Bushra Bibi received a 7-year sentence. The court also imposed hefty fines on both individuals.
National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Prosecutor General Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi, along with a NAB team, were present at Adiala Jail to hear the verdict. Khan’s legal team, including his wife and prominent lawyers such as Barristers Gohar Khan, Shoaib Shaheen, and Salman Akram Raja, were also in attendance.
As part of the ruling, Khan was fined Rs1 million, while Bushra Bibi was fined Rs0.5 million. Should they fail to pay these fines, Khan faces an additional six months in prison, while his wife would serve three more months. The court convicted Khan for “corrupt practices” and “misuse of authority,” while Bushra Bibi was found guilty of “illegal activities.” Furthermore, the judge ordered that the Al-Qadir Trust University be handed over to the federal government.
Increased Security Measures at Adiala Jail
Security was heightened around Adiala Jail to ensure public order during the verdict announcement. Rawalpindi police deployed additional personnel, including officers from multiple police stations and specialized forces such as Elite and Dolphin units. The security operation was overseen by SP Saddar Nabeel Khokhar, with SDPO Daniyal Rana and SHO Aizaz Azim coordinating the efforts. Female police officers, under Inspector Nasreen Batool’s supervision, were also involved in the security measures.
Al-Qadir Trust and the £190 Million Case
The Al-Qadir Trust case revolves around allegations that, during Khan’s tenure as Prime Minister, he and others were involved in a scheme to misappropriate £190 million, which was sent to the Pakistani government by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) in 2019. This amount was related to assets seized from a Pakistani property tycoon by the NCA. The money, initially meant to be transferred to the Pakistani government, was allegedly diverted after a settlement was reached between the NCA and the government.
The NAB alleges that Khan and his associates, including his wife and close confidants, set up the Al-Qadir Trust shortly after the agreement, using the trust to cover up illegal financial dealings. The case also implicates PTI leaders such as Zulfi Bukhari and Babar Awan, who were involved in the trust’s management.
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The investigation into the case began after Khan’s arrest in May 2023, which sparked violent protests by PTI supporters. However, he was granted bail by the Islamabad High Court, and his arrest was later deemed illegal by the Supreme Court.
The trial, which has lasted over a year, included testimony from former cabinet members and other witnesses, further detailing the alleged corruption. Several co-accused, including Bukhari and Farah Gogi, have been declared absconders, and their assets have been frozen.
As the case continues to unfold, the convictions of Khan and Bushra Bibi mark a critical moment in Pakistan’s ongoing fight against corruption at the highest levels of government.