In a significant ruling, former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, has been handed a 14-year prison sentence in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case. The verdict, delivered on Friday by a local anti-graft court, also sentenced his wife, Bushra Bibi, to seven years in jail for her involvement in the scandal. The case, one of the largest financial wrongdoing allegations against Khan, has been described as a turning point in Pakistan’s political and judicial history.
Judge Nasir Javed Rana announced the verdict inside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, where Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023. The court proceedings were held in a makeshift setup within the prison premises, marking an unusual yet pivotal moment in the country’s fight against corruption.
The case revolves around allegations that an amount of £190 million, equivalent to PRs50 billion, returned to Pakistan by the UK’s National Crime Agency in a settlement with property tycoon Malik Riaz, was misappropriated. According to prosecutors, the funds were meant for the national treasury but were diverted for personal and political gain.
Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi are accused of accepting land from Riaz as a gift in exchange for laundering the recovered money. Prosecutors argue that the couple used their influence to enable Riaz to repay fines imposed on him in another case using these funds. Part of the diverted money was allegedly used to set up Al-Qadir University in Jhelum, with Bushra Bibi, as a trustee, reportedly benefiting from the acquisition of 458 kanals of land.
The National Accountability Bureau filed charges against Khan, Bibi, and six others in December 2023. However, the other accused, including Malik Riaz, were reportedly outside Pakistan, leaving Khan and his wife as the main defendants in the case.
Khan, who has denied all charges, maintains that the allegations are politically motivated and aimed at thwarting his political ambitions. The cricketer-turned-politician has been a polarizing figure in Pakistan, and his imprisonment since August last year has drawn widespread attention.
This conviction adds to Khan’s legal woes. He has previously been sentenced in separate cases for corruption, revealing official secrets, and violating marriage laws. Under Pakistani law, these sentences will run concurrently, with the longest term of 14 years determining the duration of his imprisonment.
The Al-Qadir Trust case has sparked intense debate across Pakistan, with critics pointing to the misuse of public funds and the need for stronger accountability measures. Supporters of Khan have decried the verdict as a political vendetta, further deepening the nation’s political divide.
As the dust settles on this landmark ruling, it remains to be seen how it will shape the political landscape in Pakistan, where questions of governance and integrity continue to dominate public discourse.
