Pakistan court delays verdict in Imran Khan £190M case News
Voice of America, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Pakistan court delays verdict in Imran Khan £190M case

The Pakistan accountability court postponed on Monday the verdict on the Al-Qadir Trust case against Pakistani politician and former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife until January 13. It is the third time that the court has deferred the verdict, which was scheduled to be announced on December 23, 2024, and then on January 6.

The postponement of the verdict in the case, which is part of the many legal problems faced by the prisoner Imran Khan, comes amid ongoing negotiations between the former ruling PTI party and the coalition government to end the political dispute. The talks have so far shown no progress, and the impasse between the two sides is attributed to the PTI’s inability to meet with the party’s imprisoned founder Imran Khan, and present written demands to the government, local media outlet Geo News reported.

Khalid Yousaf Chaudry, Imran Khan’s advocate, said via X that the case was to receive a judgment yesterday but was expedited instead. He also stated that the court personnel and attorneys are unaware of the facts which raises concerns about the integrity of the judicial system, and the outcome of this case will also remain uncertain.

Alima Khan, Khan’s sister, criticized the postponement of the verdict, calling it a pressure tactic by the rulers. “They want to hang a sword around my neck by not delivering a verdict in the £190 million case,” Alima quoted Khan to reporters.

The Al-Qadir Trust case, also known as the £190 million case, concerns allegations of corruption and abuse of power related to a deal between former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and businessman Malik Riyaz. In 2019, Malik Riyaz’s assets worth £190 million were seized by the National Crime Agency (NCA) of the United Kingdom, and the Pakistani government was granted the right to return them. On December 3, 2019, Khan received the government’s approval to enter into an agreement with the NCA without disclosing details.

Subsequently, the Al-Qadir Trust was founded in Islamabad, which included several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and Imran Khan`s political party leaders. According to the charges, Riyaz transferred land to establish an educational institution for the legal protection of his assets. The case includes charges against Khan, his wife Bushra Biba, a trustee of the Al-Qadir Trust, lawyer Shahzad Akbar, and Malik Riaz for obtaining illegal benefits and manipulating funds returned to Pakistan.

Agents of the National Accountability Bureau arrested Khan on May 9, 2023, followed by continuing investigations and court proceedings. The verdict was reserved on December 18, 2024, and was previously scheduled to be announced on December 23, 2024, and then on January 6, 2025.

 

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