The verdict in £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case against former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi was once again deferred and will now be pronounced on January 17 (Friday), reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
This was the third time that the announcement of the reserved decision has been postponed.
On Sunday, the accountability court staff had informed PTI founder Imran Khan’s counsel and NAB prosecution team that the accountability court judge will announce the reserved verdict at Adiala Jail.
Judge Nasir Javed Rana was present in courtroom since 9:00 am on Monday but neither of Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi or their lawyers showed up in the courtroom.
The judge waited for them until 10:30 am and later it was announced that the announcement of the verdict has been delayed once again which will now be pronounced on January 17. The judge then left the Adiala Jail after announcing the fresh deferment.
Judge says signed judgement was ready
On the occasion, AC Judge Nasir Javed Rana expressed frustration at the continued absence of the accused, his wife Bushra Bibi, and their legal team.
The judge remarked, “I arrived at the [Adiala] jail precisely at 8:30 am, and it is now 10:30 am, yet neither the defendants nor their lawyers are present.”
He further stated that messages had been sent twice to Imran Khan, but he failed to appear in court. Similarly, Bushra Bibi, a co-accused, also did not attend.
Reflecting on the delays, the judge said, “I was unavailable on January 6 due to training, so the decision was not announced then. Today, the verdict was ready and duly signed, but the absence of the accused forced us to postpone the announcement.”
The court has now rescheduled the hearing for January 17, with hopes that the accused and their legal teams will be present in court.
Gohar says it’s an attempt to pressurise Imran Khan
Lamenting postponement in the pronouncement of the verdict in the 190 million pounds case, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Monday said that the purpose of a delay was to pressurize the former prime minister and the PTI founder Imran Khan.
Speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, Gohar said that the party leadership was eager to listen to the verdict today. “We kept waiting inside the jail for that for hours.”
He said there was no truth in reports that a delay in the decision in the case was part of any ‘deal’.
Gohar further said that the case against the former prime minister was ‘fake’. “Imran did not receive any monetary benefits. He is not the owner of Al-Qadir University, but only its trustee,” he said, and added, “PTI has been the victim of a political witch-hunt. Now there is a hope that we will get justice in the case from the superior courts. Just like these courts did justice in the past, we expect that this time too, justice will be done.”
Speaking on the occasion, PTI leader Barrister Salman Akram Raja said that talks between the party and the government had not stalled. “I have heard that the third round will be held on January 15.”
He dispelled the impression that the party was holding negotiations in order to seek a ‘deal’. “The purpose of the dialogue is to ensure that there is democracy and justice in the country,” he added.
Judge was in a hurry: Lawyers
Members of Imran Khan’s legal team Faisal Fareed Chaudhry and Khalid Yousaf Chaudhry said it seemed the judge was in a hurry. “We were told by the court staff that the decision will be announced at 11:00 am but the judge left early,” they added.
Aleema Khan’s reaction
Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan told newsmen that they arrived in court on time but the judge said the verdict was deferred due to absence of accused and left. “PTI founder will not be pleased on anther postponement in the court decisions,” she added.
Earlier the court had deferred the announcement of the verdict in £190 million case twice.
On December 23, 2024, the original date the verdict was supposed to be made public, the accountability court postponed its decision in the case until January 6, 2025, due to winter vacations in courts.
Then, on January 6, the verdict could not be pronounced as Judge Nasir Javed Rana was on leave.
Imran Khan and his wife were indicted in the case on February 27, 2024, shortly after the general elections.
In its reference against Imran Khan, the NAB had alleged that the then cabinet approved a confidential deed in 2019 to give £190 million, seized by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and returned to Pakistan,
The Bureau alleged that Imran Khan and Bushra, in return, got billions of rupees and land measuring hundreds of kanals from Bahria Town for “legalising” the money. As per the reference, Malik Riaz’s son transferred 240 kanals of land to Farhat Shahzadi, while Zulfi Bukhari received land under a trust, which the NAB argued did not exist at the time of the transfer.
The prosecution further alleged that a trust was created only after the adjustment of the 190 million pounds, raising doubts about its legitimacy and purpose.
Reporters Ershad Qureshi and Hashir Warraich