Islamabad: In a landmark judgment on Friday, a Pakistan anti-corruption court docket sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, to 14 and seven years in jail respectively, in reference to the £190 million Al-Qadir Belief corruption case. Choose Nasir Javed Rana introduced the decision at a makeshift court docket inside Adiala Jail, marking a big flip within the high-profile investigation.
The decision had been delayed thrice, most not too long ago on January 13, earlier than lastly being delivered. The Nationwide Accountability Bureau (NAB) filed the case in December 2023, accusing Khan, 72, Bibi, 50, and 6 others of inflicting a lack of roughly £190 million (PKR 50 billion) to Pakistan’s treasury.
The allegations stem from a settlement between the UK’s Nationwide Crime Company (NCA) and a distinguished property tycoon, wherein £190 million was returned to Pakistan. As a substitute of being deposited into the nationwide treasury, the funds have been allegedly redirected for the non-public good thing about the businessman, who reportedly assisted Khan and Bibi in establishing Al-Qadir College in Jhelum.
Bushra Bibi, a trustee of the Al-Qadir Belief, is accused of buying 458 kanals of land for the college as a part of the deal. Prosecutors argue that the couple misused the funds meant for the general public treasury, funneling them into private initiatives.
The property tycoon and different people named within the case weren’t prosecuted as they’re at present overseas. This has raised questions on accountability and the broader implications of the case on Pakistan’s world fame.
The case has sparked widespread debate in Pakistan, with supporters of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) occasion alleging political victimization. Critics argue that the decision underscores the necessity for transparency and accountability in high-level corruption instances. Authorized analysts have famous the weird tempo of the trial and its implications for the justice system.
