The verdict in the £190m Al-Qadir Trust case involving former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, which was expected to be delivered today (Monday), has been postponed for the third time.
Judge Nasir Javed Rana cited the couple’s absence from court as the reason for the delay. The verdict, initially postponed on December 23, 2024, and then again on January 6, 2025, will now be announced on January 17 (Friday).
Imran and Bushra were indicted in the case on February 27, 2024, shortly after the general elections. The case alleges that the couple received billions of rupees and land worth hundreds of kanals from Bahria Town Ltd in exchange for legalizing Rs 50 billion identified and returned to Pakistan by the UK during the previous PTI government.
The verdict was expected to be delivered in a makeshift courtroom at Adiala Jail, where hearings have been held for the past year. Judge Rana stated that while Bushra Bibi was aware of the verdict being announced, she did not appear in court. Imran, despite receiving two messages, also failed to attend. The judge added that he had been present in court since 8:30 am, but neither the suspects nor their lawyers showed up. He confirmed that the decision was ready and signed.
The judge further noted that the suspects had been given numerous chances during the trial. Imran was reported to have told jail officials that he would not attend court until his lawyers and family members arrived.
Ahead of the hearing, Imran’s sisters, Aleema, Noreen, and Uzma Khan, along with PTI Secretary General Barrister Salman Akram Raja, were present at Adiala Jail.
The original verdict date of December 23 was postponed due to winter vacations, and again on January 6 because Judge Rana was on leave.
The case involves Malik Riaz’s son transferring 240 kanals of land to Farhat Shahzadi, with Zulfi Bukhari receiving land under a trust, which NAB claimed did not exist at the time of the transfer. The prosecution argued that the trust was created after the adjustment of the £190m, casting doubt on its legitimacy.
In response to the delay, PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan stated that the postponement was not due to any deal, countering claims that a deal was being made. He expressed dissatisfaction with the trial court’s handling of the case and insisted that the delay was the judge’s decision alone.
Raja also clarified that ongoing talks between PTI and the government to ease political tensions were unrelated to the delay. He firmly stated, “We will not do any deal.”
PTI central information secretary Sheikh Waqqas Akram had previously claimed that the case was a clear example of acquittal, as the prosecution had failed to prove any wrongdoing. He emphasized that the Al-Qadir Trust was a university, not a personal asset of Imran or his family, and that the land was registered in the trust’s name.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif expressed hope that justice would prevail, adding that the US had not intervened in the matter.
