Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan. |Photo courtesy: AP
A Pakistani court on Friday (17 January 2025) ruled against former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, who were found guilty of corruption in the £190 million Al Qadir Trust case. They were sentenced to 14 years in prison and 7 years in prison, respectively.
Anti-corruption court judge Nasir Javed Rana announced the verdict, which was postponed three times for various reasons, the last time on January 13.
The judge announced the verdict in a temporary courtroom set up inside Adira Prison. In addition to the jail term, Khan was fined 1 million rupees and Bushra Bibi was fined 500,000 rupees. If they fail to pay the fine, Mr. Khan faces an additional six months in prison and Mr. Bibi faces an additional three months in prison. The court also ordered the confiscation of the land of al-Qadir University, which they founded.
While Mr. Khan is already in prison, Mr. Bushra was arrested from court.
“Today’s ruling has tarnished the reputation of the judiciary. I have neither gained nor the government lost in this case. I do not seek any relief and intend to face every case. ” Khan was quoted as saying by the party.
“Dictators are doing these things,” he said.
Also read | Pakistani court submits 14-page question to Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in Al Qadir Trust case
In December 2023, the National Audit Bureau (NAB) accused six people, including Khan, 72, and Bibi, 50, of causing losses of 190 million pounds (50 billion rupees) to the country’s kitty. I filed a complaint.
Khan and Bibi were the only people charged in the case; everyone else, including the real estate mogul, was out of the country.
The case revolves around allegations that PR50 billion returned to Pakistan by the UK’s National Crime Agency as part of a settlement with a real estate mogul was misused.
The funds were reportedly supposed to go to the national treasury, but were allegedly diverted for the personal benefit of the businessman who helped Bibi and Khan set up the university.
Bibi is accused of benefiting from the settlement as a trustee of Al-Qadir Trust, including acquiring 458 kanals of land for Al-Qadir University in Jhelum. Justice Rana finished hearing the case on December 18th, but reserved judgment until December 23rd. Geo News subsequently reported that the date for announcing the verdict was set for January 6th.
Sentencing was postponed to January 13 because he was on vacation on January 6.
However, the verdict was postponed again as the defendant and his lawyer were not present in court on January 13th.
The ruling comes amid ongoing negotiations between the government and Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party to address political instability in the country following the imprisonment of Khan and several other party leaders. The decision was made during negotiations.
Three rounds of consultations have been held so far and PTI has submitted a written charter of demands to the government.
Khan faces dozens of lawsuits after being ousted as prime minister in 2022.
He has been imprisoned since August 2023.
issued – January 17, 2025 12:41pm IST
