Verdict in £190 Million Reference Against Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi to Be Announced Today

Islamabad:The Accountability Court will announce its verdict today at 11 AM in the £190 million reference against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi. Judge Nasir Javed Rana will deliver the decision at Adiala Jail, with court staff notifying all concerned parties in advance.
The decision in the £190 million reference was reserved on December 18, 2024. Initially, the court set the verdict announcement for December 23, then January 6, and finally decided on January 13 as the final date.
The trial, which took a year to complete, saw the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) record statements from 35 witnesses. Imran Khan’s lawyers cross-examined these witnesses during the proceedings.
Key witnesses in the case included former Principal Secretary Azam Khan, former Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, and former Federal Minister Zubaida Jalal. The charge sheet in the case was presented on February 27 of the previous year.
### What is the £190 Million Reference?
Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi are accused of secretly negotiating a deal with a property tycoon through the head of the Asset Recovery Unit (ARU), Shehzad Akbar, before £190 million was transferred to Pakistan. This deal was later approved by the federal cabinet using their influence.
On December 6, 2019, Shehzad Akbar signed a confidentiality agreement with the National Crime Agency, while Bushra Bibi played a significant role in the illegal activities of Imran Khan. On March 24, 2021, she signed documents related to the establishment of Al-Qadir University as a trustee, aiding Imran Khan’s efforts.
It is alleged that Imran Khan, through this secret deal, declared the £190 million as a government asset and used the Supreme Court’s account for the transaction. The couple, via their associate Farhat Shehzadi, acquired 240 kanals of land in the Mohra Noor area of Islamabad, and through Zulfi Bukhari, secured an additional 458 kanals for Al-Qadir University.
At the time of this transaction in April 2019, Al-Qadir University did not even exist.