ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani accountability court postponed for the third time on Monday the announcement of the long-awaited verdict in a case in which former prime minister Imran Khan has been accused of accepting land as a bribe by misusing his office during his tenure, with his Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party claiming the delay was not part of a “political deal”.
The Al-Qadir Trust case concerns Khan and his third wife Bushra Bibi’s acceptance of money and valuable land in return for the legalisation of £190 million that the UK’s National Crime Agency had returned to Pakistan during the tenure of the past PTI govt.
Judge Nasir Javed Rana cited Imran and Bushra’s failure to appear before his accountability court as the reason for postponement of the announcement of the Al-Qadir case verdict. The decision — already postponed twice, on Dec 23, 2024 and Jan 6, 2025 — will now be announced on Jan 17. The couple were indicted in the case on Feb 27, 2024, shortly after the general elections.
Khan’s party called the postponement unusual and said it “just re-affirms perception that it’s all linked to the timing of political developments”.
“This is a nasty, baseless case,” PTI chairman Gohar Ali Khan said after the hearing. “If this was based on justice then Khan would have been honourably acquitted, but when decisions are based on political considerations or to put pressure, then everyone can see the writing on the wall,” Gohar said.
“We came prepared that the verdict would be released today but the judge has postponed it of his own accord … it is not the result of any deal,” he added.
In the case, Pakistani authorities have accused Khan and his wife of receiving the land, worth up to Pakistani Rs 7 billion ($25 million), from Malik Riaz Hussain, a property developer charged in the UK with money laundering.
The prosecution also alleged that the Al-Qadir Trust was established only after the adjustment of £190 million. Like Imran and Bushra, Hussain also denies any wrongdoing.