Verdict in 190 million pounds case to be announced today

Verdict in the 190 million pounds Al-Qadir Trust corruption case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi will be announced today (Monday).Judge Nasir Javed Rana of accountability court will announce the verdict in Adiala Jail at 11:00 am.It merits mention that the court had reserved the verdict on December 18, 2024. At first, it was announced that the decision would be pronounced on December 23. Later, it was delayed to January 6.WHAT IS THE CASE?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 real estate tycoon, which reportedly caused a loss of £190 million to the 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. According to the arrangement, the money would be presented to the Supreme Court on behalf of the real estate tycoon.Subsequently, the Al-Qadir Trust was established in Islamabad. Members of the trust have been named as PTI leaders Zulfi Bukhari, Babar Awan, Bushra Bibi, and her close friend Farah Khan. The real estate tycoon allegedly gave up the land for the construction of an educational institution in exchange for legal protection for him.