Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD,: Accountability Court (AC) on Friday announced 14-year jail term for PTI founder Imran Khan and seven years for his wife Bushra Bibi in a graft reference about a 190 million pound scam.
The court also imposed a fine worth Rs. one million on PTI founder and Rs.0.5 million on Bushra Bibi. In case on failing to submit the fine, the PTI founder would face additional six month while Bushra Bibi three month imprisonment.
Accountability Court Judge Nasir Javed Rana pronounced the verdict in presence of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi at a temporary court in central jail adiala Rawalpindi.
The court in its 148-pages written order said, “The accused Imran Khan is hereby held guilty for commission of offence of corruption and corrupt practice as defined u/s 9(a)(ii)(iV)(vi) of the National Accountability Ordinance 1999. He is hereby convicted. He is sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 14 years and fine amounting Rs.1000000/- (ten lac), in default whereof to undergo for simple imprisonment for a period of further six months.
The order further said, “The accused Bushra Imran is also hereby held guilty for commission of offence of aiding, assisting, and abetting. She is sentenced rigorous imprisonment for 07 (seven) years and fine amounting to Rs.500,000 (five lac), in default whereof to undergo for simple imprisonment for a period of further three months.
It said, Property of the sham trust “the Al-Qadir University Project Trust’ is here fortfeited to Federal Government within the meaning of section 10(a) of the NAB Ordinance, 1999.
The judgment read, “The testimony of the prosecution witnesses could not be discredited by the defence side. The prosecution case mainly hinges upon the documentary evidence, which is proved patiently. In this view of the matter, it can be safely concluded that the prosecution has successfully proved it case against both the accused lmran Ahmed Khan and Bushra lmran, through production of cogent, credible, coherent, irrebuttable, reliable and confidence inspiring evidence.
Although, some of the witness including 1.0 IPW-35 had to undergo lengthy and exhaustive cross examination yet the same could not even shake the creditability of these witnesses. During the appreciation, their deposition were found consistent and coherent as a whole. There might be certain minor discrepancies and contradictions in the prosecution evidence which are but natural in such like cases of white collar crimes. Despite availing convenient and flexible opportunities, the defence remained failed to create any reasonable dent or doubt fatal for the prosecution case.”
The verdict said, “Even the documents got exhibited in the defence are of hardly any value for it. Similarly, the esteemed case law put forth by the leaned defence counsel is hardly relevant under the peculiar facts and circumstances of this case.”
The order said, “it is also proved that in exchange of illegal favors extended to co-accused Malik Riaz Hussain, con-accused Ahmed Ali Riaz and the Bahria Town (Pvt.) Ltd., under guise of Al-Qadir University Project Trust, of which the accused Imran Ahmed Khan became the settler and founder, dishonestly and deliberately obtained material monetary gain, property, valuable things, and pecuniary advantages, including a donation of approximately 458 Kanals of land, funds amounting to Rs.285 million, the university’s building valuing Rs.284,032,000, and in-kind contribution to the Al-Qadir University Project Trust.”
The judgment said, “It is also proved further, that in exchange of the said illegal favors extended to co-accused, in July and October 2021, the accused Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi dishonestly obtained material monetary gain from the said co-accused in the shape of 240 kanals 06 marlas of land in Mouza Mohra Noor, Islamabad through co-accused Farhat Shehzadi, who acted as front person of accused Bushra Imran and Imran Ahmed Khan, without consideration.”
It said, “The prosecution has also proved that the accused Bushra Imran Khan being a trustee of the Al-Qadir University Project Trust since its inception alongside her husband, accused Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi, played a significant role in the illegal activities by acknowledging the receipt of property, pecuniary benefits, and other valuable items from the co-accused Malik Riaz Hussain through Bahria Town Limited, and by aiding and abetting and assisting in the commission of crimes by signing the “acknowledgement of Donation” deed dated March 24, 2021 and also being signatory to the joint account of the Al-Qadir University Project Trust, maintained at the HBL Civic Centre branch Islamabad.”
The order states, “In view of my findings after appreciation of evidence in this case, both the applications u/s 265-K Cr.P.C filed during the trial by both the accused lmran Ahmed Khan and Bushra lmran separately are hereby dismissed and disposed of accordingly.
For what has been discussed above, the prosecution has successfully proved its case within the four corners of law, beyond any shadow of doubt, up to the hilt of the guilt of both accused.”
It may be mentioned here that the court announced the verdict which was previously reserved on December 18. NAB prosecutors Irfan Ahmed, Sohail Arif, Owais Arshad Adiala, PTI founder’s sister Aleema Khan, PTI lawyer Barrister Salman Akram Raja, and Bushra Bibi’s daughter and son-in-law were also in attendance. Earlier, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar, along with Shoaib Shaheen, also reached court.
A total of 35 witnesses were presented before court against the accused. The court had declared other co-accused including Barrister Shahzad Akbar, Zulfi Bokhari, Farhat Shehzadi (Gogi) as proclaimed offender.
The 190 million pounds 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 centres around an alleged settlement between the PTI government and a property tycoon, which reportedly caused a loss of 190 million pounds to Pakistan’s national exchequer.
Khan and the other accused are alleged to have misused 190 million pounds sent by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) as part of the settlement. Bushra Bibi was named 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 kanal in Mauza Bakrala, Sohawa, for the establishment of Al-Qadir University.
During Khan’s tenure, the NCA seized 190 million pounds worth of assets from the tycoon. The assets were meant to be handed 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.
