A Pakistani accountability court has delayed its verdict in the £190 million case involving former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, for the third time, according to local media reports on Sunday.
Geo News reported that the court was originally scheduled to announce the judgment on December 23, after reserving its decision on December 18. The verdict was then postponed to January 6, 2025. Sources cited by Geo News indicated that the court would inform the lawyers of a new date on Monday.
The case, commonly referred to as the Al-Qadir Trust case, accuses Khan, his wife, and others of causing a loss of £190 million to the national treasury through a controversial settlement between Khan’s government and a prominent property tycoon.
The deferral comes amid ongoing negotiations between Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and the federal government. Both sides are expected to hold a third round of talks next week.
The government has urged the PTI to submit its “charter of demands” in writing. Among the PTI’s demands are the release of “political prisoners,” including Khan, and a judicial investigation into the events of May 9, 2023, as well as the crackdown on PTI supporters on November 26.
Commenting on the potential outcome of the case, PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram stated that the ongoing negotiations would continue regardless of any judgment against Khan.
The case highlights the political and legal challenges facing Khan, who remains a polarizing figure in Pakistani politics. His supporters see the charges as politically motivated, while critics argue the case reflects broader accountability concerns.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the delayed verdict adds another layer of uncertainty to Pakistan’s volatile political landscape.
