Verdict Reserved in £190 Million Settlement Case Against Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi
Rawalpindi – An accountability court on Wednesday reserved its verdict in the £190 million settlement case involving Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi. The ruling will be announced on December 3, Judge Nasir Javed Rana confirmed.
The decision came after the counsels for Khan and Bushra Bibi concluded their final arguments, following the prosecution’s arguments earlier in the week.
The Case and Proceedings
The high-profile case, described by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) as the “biggest in the country’s history,” pertains to alleged irregularities in the settlement of £190 million transferred by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to the Pakistani government during Khan’s tenure as prime minister.
The NAB accused Khan, Bushra Bibi, and others of illegally adjusting Rs50 billion (£190 million) as part of an agreement with a prominent property tycoon, causing a significant loss to the national exchequer. The couple also allegedly received undue benefits, including 458 kanals of land in Mouza Bakrala, Sohawa, for establishing the Al-Qadir Trust University.
The prosecution presented testimonies from 35 witnesses, including prominent figures such as former principal secretary Azam Khan, ex-chief minister Pervez Khattak, and former federal minister Zubaida Jalal.
Defence and Prosecution Arguments
NAB Prosecutor Amjad Pervez argued that the case was centered on obtaining “illegal benefits” and violating procedural rules, stating, “Our case is about obtaining illegal benefits.”
In contrast, Khan’s counsel, Barrister Salman Safdar, claimed the watchdog failed to establish any crime, emphasizing that the funds remained with the government. He labeled the case a tool for political victimization, asserting that neither Khan nor Bushra Bibi benefited financially.
Background
Khan and Bushra Bibi were indicted in February 2023 and have been under scrutiny since the inquiry began. Khan, a former prime minister and cricket star, has been incarcerated since August 2023 following his conviction in the Toshakhana case-I.
This case is one of numerous legal challenges the PTI founder faces following his removal from office in April 2022.
