ISLAMABAD, Jan 17 (Alliance News): An accountability court in Islamabad on Friday sentenced Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan to 14 years in prison and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to seven years in connection with the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust corruption case.
Accountability Court Judge Nasir Javed Rana announced the verdict during proceedings held at Adiala Jail, also imposing fines of Rs1 million and Rs0.5 million on Imran and Bushra, respectively.
In case of non-payment, Imran will serve an additional six months, while Bushra will face an extra three months behind bars.
The case, regarded as a major corruption scandal, revolves around misappropriation of funds returned to Pakistan by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) in 2019. Imran and Bushra were convicted under various sections of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999, for corrupt practices and aiding corruption.
The prosecution, led by NAB Prosecutor General Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi, presented documentary evidence that the court found credible and consistent.
Key witnesses, including former cabinet members and senior officials, testified that a sealed agreement presented to the cabinet was used to divert the funds to a private property tycoon and later to the Al-Qadir Trust.
The trust, established weeks after the NCA settlement, was alleged to have been created to legitimize the misappropriation of funds. The court highlighted that the defense failed to discredit the prosecution’s evidence or establish reasonable doubt.
Strict security arrangements were in place around Adiala Jail, with additional personnel from six police stations and specialized forces ensuring law and order. Female police officers, plainclothes personnel, and senior officials supervised the comprehensive security plan.
The £190 million case originated from a settlement between the NCA and a Pakistani property tycoon during Imran Khan’s tenure as prime minister. The amount, deemed as crime proceeds, was returned to Pakistan but diverted to private use under the guise of the Al-Qadir Trust.
Imran was arrested in May 2023 as investigations progressed. His initial detention led to widespread protests by PTI supporters, with attacks on state installations. Despite obtaining bail and temporary legal relief, the trial culminated in convictions based on detailed evidence and witness testimonies.
The court also ordered the transfer of Al-Qadir Trust University to the federal government and the freezing of assets of six co-accused, including prominent PTI figures Zulfi Bukhari and Farah Gogi, who were declared absconders.
Attested copies of the judgment were provided to the convicts to facilitate filing appeals.
