An accountability court (AC) in Rawalpindi, which was due to pronounce a verdict in the 190 million pounds case (Al-Qadir Trust case) involving former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi on Sunday, said on Monday that now it would announce it on January 6, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
On Sunday, 24News TV channel reported that an AC in Rawalpindi had decided that it would not announce a verdict in £190 million case on Monday (tomorrow) and that the court staff had informed the PTI lawyers about the decision.
Judge Nasir Javed Rana reserved a ruling in the case on December 18 after counsels for the PTI founder and his wife concluded their final arguments.
The prosecution team, however, completed its arguments a day earlier.
The incarcerated ex-premier and former first lady had been indicted in the case on February 27, 2024.
During the one-year-long trial, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) recorded testimonies of 35 witnesses, including former principal secretary Azam Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ex-chief minister Pervez Khattak and former federal minister Zubaida Jalal.
The NAB had filed the reference against Imran, Bushra, and others in December 2023. The couple is facing NAB’s inquiry into a settlement reached between the PTI government and a property tycoon, which reportedly caused a loss of £190 million to the national exchequer.
As per the charges, Imran and other accused allegedly adjusted Rs50 billion — £190 million at the time — sent by the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) to the Pakistani government as part of the agreement with the property tycoon.
Bushra was nominated in the case for being a trustee of the Al-Qadir Trust.
They are also accused of getting undue benefit in the form of over 458 kanals of land at Mouza Bakrala, Sohawa, to establish Al Qadir University.
Reporter: Hashir Ahsan