Pakistan

Judgment on 190 Million Pound Case Against Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi to be Announced Today

Islamabad:The much-awaited judgment in the 190 million-pound reference against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi will be delivered today at 11:30 AM. The court staff has informed Imran Khan’s lawyers about the scheduled announcement.

The case, which has been under trial for some time, will be heard by Judge Nasir Javed Rana of the Accountability Court, who had earlier reserved the verdict. This decision has already been postponed three times in the past. Initially, the verdict was set for December 23, 2024, but it was delayed until January 6, 2025. After further delays, it was again scheduled for January 13, only to be postponed once more. However, the court has confirmed that the decision will be announced today, January 17, 2025.

**Details of the 190 Million Pound Case:**
According to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the owner of Bahria Town, Malik Riaz, allegedly donated over 458 kanals of land in the Sohawa area of Jhelum District for the establishment of the Al-Qadir Trust University. In return, it is claimed that Imran Khan allegedly facilitated Malik Riaz in receiving a benefit of 50 billion rupees.

This sum was originally seized from Malik Riaz by the UK National Crime Agency (NCA) due to illegal money and property holdings. The seized amount was later returned to Pakistan, with the NCA declaring it the property of the state. However, under the direction of then-Prime Minister Imran Khan, the money was deposited not into the national treasury but into the Supreme Court’s account, which was meant to handle the 460 billion rupee payment from Malik Riaz for the Bahria Town Karachi case.

As a result, NAB claims that the seized money was used to clear Malik Riaz’s personal debt instead of being added to the national coffers. In exchange, Malik Riaz reportedly donated the land for the university project linked to the Al-Qadir Trust.

**Timeline of Key Events:**
– **May 4, 2018:** The Supreme Court ruled that the allotment and transfer of government land to Bahria Town Karachi was illegal and prohibited the sale of residential and commercial plots. Bahria Town offered settlement amounts of 250 billion, 358 billion, and later 405 billion rupees, all of which were rejected by the court.
– **December 2018:** The UK began investigating Malik Riaz for money laundering.
– **March 21, 2019:** The Supreme Court accepted a settlement offer of 460 billion rupees from Malik Riaz for the Bahria Town case.
– **August 2019:** A UK court froze eight accounts belonging to Malik Riaz, amounting to 120 million pounds.
– **December 3, 2019:** A settlement between the NCA and Malik Riaz resulted in the return of 190 million pounds to Pakistan.
– **December 3, 2019:** The federal cabinet, under Imran Khan’s leadership, approved depositing the 50 billion rupees received from the UK into the Supreme Court’s account instead of the national treasury.
– **December 26, 2019:** Imran Khan registered the Al-Qadir Trust for the university project, with Malik Riaz donating land in Jhelum for the trust’s establishment.
– **October 2022:** NAB initiated an investigation into the case.
– **May 9, 2023:** Imran Khan was arrested in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case.
– **December 1, 2023:** The 190 million-pound reference was filed in the Accountability Court.
– **January 6, 2024:** Several co-accused in the case, including Farah Gogi, Mirza Shehzad Akbar, Zia-ul-Islam Naseem, and Zulfi Bukhari, were declared judicially absconders.
– **February 27, 2024:** Charges were formally framed against Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi.
– **December 18, 2024:** The court reserved its judgment after hearing arguments from both sides.
– **January 23, 2024:** The verdict was initially expected but delayed. It was postponed again on January 6, 2025, and rescheduled for January 13, 2025. After another delay, it has now been confirmed that the judgment will be announced today, January 17, 2025.

As the decision nears, all eyes are on the Accountability Court, with many waiting to see what the outcome of this high-profile case will mean for Imran Khan and his political future.

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