Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were convicted on Friday in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case. Imran Khan was sentenced to 14 years in prison, while Bushra Bibi received a seven-year jail term.
Judge Nasir Javed Rana delivered the verdict — which had been delayed three times — in a makeshift courtroom at Adiala Jail. The court also imposed fines on the couple, with Imran Khan fined Rs1 million and Bushra Bibi Rs500,000.
The couple was indicted on February 27, 2024, shortly after the general elections.
National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Prosecutor General Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi and a NAB team attended the verdict announcement at Adiala Jail. Also present were the couple’s legal team, including Barristers Gohar Khan, Shoaib Shaheen, and Salman Akram Raja.
Following the announcement, Bushra Bibi was taken into custody, with sources indicating that her cell in Adiala Jail was ready. The court convicted Imran Khan for “corrupt practices” and “misuse of authority” while Bushra Bibi was found guilty of “involvement in illegal activities.” The judge also ordered that the Al-Qadir Trust University be handed over to the federal government.
The case, filed by NAB in December 2023, alleges that Khan and Bushra Bibi misused £190 million sent by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to Pakistan as part of a settlement with a property tycoon. The PTI-led government allegedly approved the settlement with the tycoon on December 3, 2019, without disclosing details and funneled the funds to the Supreme Court on his behalf. In return, the couple is accused of receiving valuable land to establish Al-Qadir Trust University in Islamabad. NAB claims the arrangement was a cover for the tycoon’s illicit funds.
The couple was formally charged in February 2024, with former cabinet members and senior officials testifying against Imran Khan. Six co-accused, including Zulfi Bukhari and Mirza Shahzad Akbar, were declared absconders, and their assets were frozen.
Although Imran Khan was granted bail by the Islamabad High Court in this case and Bushra Bibi received pre-arrest bail, their defense suffered setbacks when the court rejected a list of 16 witnesses proposed by Khan. Four judges oversaw the case, with Judge Nasir Javed issuing the final verdict.
