The former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were convicted in the highly controversial Al-Qadir Trust case. The couple faced allegations of misusing £190 million returned by the UK’s National Crime Agency to Pakistan. Judge Nasir Javed Rana, in a verdict delivered at Adiala Jail, sentenced Khan to 14 years and Bushra Bibi to seven years in prison. The court also imposed fines of Rs1 million and Rs500,000 on them, respectively.
Al-Qadir Trust Case: Key Allegation
The case, filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in December 2023, revolved around the misuse of £190 million sent by the UK’s National Crime Agency. The funds, intended for Pakistan’s treasury, were allegedly redirected to the Supreme Court on behalf of a property tycoon in 2019. In exchange, Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi reportedly received valuable land to establish the Al-Qadir Trust University in Islamabad.
The court found the couple guilty of abusing their authority and engaging in corrupt practices. The Al-Qadir Trust University has now been ordered to be handed over to the federal government.
The Immediate Aftermath
Judge Nasir Javed Rana announced the verdict in a makeshift courtroom at Adiala Jail, attended by top NAB officials and the couple’s legal team. Following the decision, Bushra Bibi was immediately taken into custody, with preparations already made for her stay at the jail. Prominent co-accused, including Zulfi Bukhari and Mirza Shahzad Akbar, were declared absconders, with their assets frozen.
Imran Khan’s defense team faced challenges throughout the trial, including the rejection of 16 proposed witnesses. The trial, marked by multiple delays and presided over by four judges, culminated in this decisive ruling, cementing one of the most high-profile convictions in Pakistan’s political history.
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