The court has now set January 17 as the new date for the announcement of the verdict.
£190mln case: Verdict against Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi delayed again. The much-anticipated verdict in the £190 million case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi has been postponed for the third time.
The Accountability Court has now set January 17 as the new date for the announcement of the verdict.
During today’s hearing, neither the lawyers for the accused nor the accused themselves appeared in court. Accountability Court Judge Nasir Javed Rana explained that he was unable to pronounce the verdict on January 6 due to training commitments.
The court highlighted that Bushra Bibi was aware of the scheduled verdict today but failed to appear. Furthermore, despite sending two messages to the founder of PTI, Imran Khan, he too did not show up for the hearing.
Judge Nasir Javed Rana remarked that the verdict was ready and signed, but the accused and their lawyers’ failure to attend the session had caused the delay. The court emphasised that the accused were provided with multiple opportunities throughout the trial.
What is 190 million pound case?
The case centres around the allegation that Imran Khan, along with his wife Bushra Bibi, was involved in providing undue benefits to property tycoon Malik Riaz in exchange for land donated to a charitable trust.
According to Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Malik Riaz, owner of Bahria Town, donated significant assets—458 kanals and 4 marlas of land in Mouza Barkala, District Jhelum—to Khan’s Al-Qadir Trust University.