Rawalpindi, January 17, 2025: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were found guilty in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust corruption case on Friday. The court sentenced Imran Khan to 14 years in prison, while Bushra Bibi received a seven-year sentence.
Judge Nasir Javed Rana announced the long-awaited verdict in a makeshift courtroom at Adiala Jail. In addition to the prison terms, the court fined Imran Khan Rs1 million and Bushra Bibi Rs500,000. Bushra Bibi was immediately arrested from the courtroom following the verdict.
The couple was initially indicted on February 27, 2024, shortly after the general elections. The verdict, originally scheduled for December 23, 2024, faced multiple delays, with hearings postponed to January 6 and January 13 before finally concluding on January 17. Khan had alleged that the delays were meant to apply political pressure. However, the absence of Khan and his legal team at the final hearing contributed to the extended timeline.
What is Al-Qadir Trust Case?
The case, brought by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in December 2023, accused Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi of misappropriating £190 million transferred to Pakistan by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA). These funds were part of a settlement involving a well-known property tycoon.
The PTI-led government allegedly facilitated an agreement with the tycoon on December 3, 2019, without publicly disclosing the details. Instead of depositing the money into the national treasury, the funds were reportedly directed to the Supreme Court on behalf of the tycoon. In return, Khan and his wife allegedly received prime land for establishing Al-Qadir Trust University in Islamabad, effectively providing legal cover for the tycoon’s assets.
Prominent witnesses against Khan included former cabinet members and senior officials. The court also declared six co-accused, including Zulfi Bukhari and Mirza Shahzad Akbar, as absconders, freezing their assets.
Although Khan and Bushra initially secured bail—Imran from the Islamabad High Court and Bushra via pre-arrest bail—their defense faced significant hurdles. The court rejected a list of 16 proposed witnesses, further weakening their case. Over the course of the trial, four judges presided before Judge Nasir Javed delivered the final verdict.
