Verdict reserved in £190m reference against Imran and Bushra

Rawalpindi: An accountability court in Rawalpindi on Wednesday reserved its judgment in the high-profile £190 million settlement case involving Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi.

Judge Nasir Javed Rana, presiding over the case, announced that the verdict would be delivered on December 3, following the conclusion of arguments from all parties. The prosecution completed its arguments on Tuesday, while the defence presented their final submissions today.

The trial, spanning over a year, saw the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) present testimonies from 35 witnesses, including prominent figures such as former principal secretary Azam Khan, ex-chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pervez Khattak, and former federal minister Zubaida Jalal.

The case stems from allegations that Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi misused public funds in a controversial settlement with a UK-based property tycoon. Both were indicted on February 27, 2023.

During the hearing, NAB Prosecutor Amjad Pervez labeled the case as the largest corruption scandal in the country’s history. He argued that the adjustment of £190 million by the PTI government violated established rules, alleging that illegal benefits were obtained.

“Our case is about obtaining illegal benefits,” said Pervez, highlighting procedural violations.

However, defence counsel Barrister Salman Safdar countered, stating that the prosecution had failed to prove any crime. He emphasized that the funds were deposited with the government and claimed that neither financial loss nor personal gain occurred.

Referring to the Al-Qadir Trust University, the lawyer alleged political victimization, asserting that the former prime minister and his wife were innocent.

The NAB initiated the inquiry in December 2023, alleging that the PTI government, under Imran Khan’s leadership, facilitated a settlement with a UK property tycoon. The deal reportedly led to the transfer of £190 million (approximately Rs50 billion) to the Pakistani government, with accusations of misuse for personal or institutional benefit.

Bushra Bibi was implicated as a trustee of the Al-Qadir Trust, which allegedly benefited from over 458 kanals of land in Mouza Bakrala, Sohawa, intended for the establishment of Al-Qadir University.

The funds, seized by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), were transferred to Pakistan in what the NCA described as a civil settlement, without any finding of guilt. However, NAB argues that the agreement, approved by the PTI cabinet on December 3, 2019, lacked transparency and accountability.