ISLAMABAD: Decision on £190 million corruption case Against Imran Khan against former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi deferred again.
The Accountability Court in Islamabad on Monday said that the verdict in the 190 million pound reference case will be announced on January 13.
According to a statement issued by the court staff, the verdict cannot be announced because Accountability Court Judge Nasir Javed Rana is on leave today.
The court staff informed Imran Khan’s counsel Khalid Yousaf Chaudhry of the postponement of the decision.
It should be noted that the verdict in the 190 million pound case was earlier scheduled to be announced on December 23, which was postponed and a new date of January 6 was given. The court, however, today set a new date January 13 for pronouncing the verdict.
The Ali-Qadir Trust case is about the settlement of 190 million pounds, about Rs 50 billion, which the UK’s National Crime Agency sent to Pakistan after recovering the amount from property tycoon Malik Riaz.
Here is a timeline of events related to the £190 million case
2019: Imran Khan along with his wife Bushra Bibi, and close aide Zulfiqar Bukhari established Al-Qadir Trust. Imran and his spouse Bushra Bibi obtained billions of rupees and land worth hundreds of kanals from Bahria Town for Al-Qadir University.
December 2019: The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) seized assets worth £190 million from property tycoon Malik Riaz. These funds were repatriated to Pakistan during Imran Khan’s tenure as Prime Minister.
In December 2024, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had filed a corruption reference against Imran and seven others, including his wife, in connection with the Al-Qadir University. The NAB reference stated that Imran Khan, then the prime minister, obtained land for their trust from Malik Riaz to build an educational institute in return for releasing an amount of £190 million to a property tycoon in 2020. The deal with Malik Riaz caused a loss of more than $239m to the national exchequer.
May 9, 2023: Imran Khan was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case, alleging misuse of authority in the settlement with Malik Riaz, causing a £190 million loss to the national exchequer.
May 11, 2023: The Supreme Court declared Imran Khan’s arrest unlawful and ordered his immediate release.
May 12, 2023: The Islamabad High Court granted Imran Khan bail in the Al-Qadir Trust case.
Feb 27, 2023: Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were indicted in the £190 million Al-Qadar Trust reference.
December 11, 2024: Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi recorded their statements under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Dec 18, 2024: The accountability court reserved its verdict in the case against Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi with the judgment scheduled for December 23, 2024.
