Verdict in 190 million pound case to be announced today

Verdict in the 190 million pound Al-Qadir Trust corruption case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi will be announced today (Friday).Judge Nasir Javed Rana of anti-corruption court will announce the verdict in Adiala Jail at 11:30 am.It is pertinent to mention here that Judge Nasir Javed Rana of the anti-corruption court had completed the hearing of 190 million pound case on December 18 but reserved the judgment until December 23. Later he fixed January 6 as the new date for announcing the verdict. and then January 13, but it was delayed each time.The 190 million pound case involves a reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against former prime minister Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, and others in December 2023.The case centers around an alleged settlement between the PTI government and a property tycoon, which reportedly caused a loss of £190 million to Pakistan’s national exchequer.Khan and the other accused are alleged to have misused £190 million sent by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) as part of the settlement. Bushra Bibi was named as an accused for her role as a trustee of the Al-Qadir Trust.Additionally, the couple is accused of receiving undue benefits, including over 458 kanals of land in Mouza Bakrala, Sohawa, for the establishment of Al-Qadir University.During Khan’s tenure, the NCA seized £190 million worth of assets from the tycoon. The assets were meant to be handed over to Pakistan, with the settlement deemed a civil matter by the NCA.However, the details of the confidential agreement were not disclosed when Khan’s cabinet approved it in December 2019. Subsequently, the Al-Qadir Trust was established in Islamabad.