Imprisoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has strongly criticized the repeated delays in the verdict for the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case, labeling them as government pressure tactics.
Speaking to reporters outside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail on Monday, Imran’s sister, Aleema Khan, shared that he views the postponements as an attempt to keep a “sword hanging over his neck.” The Islamabad accountability court has deferred the verdict three times, now rescheduled for January 13, following earlier delays on December 23 and January 6.
Aleema emphasized Imran’s desire for the verdict to be delivered promptly, stating that he aims to expose the case’s true nature and fight the charges through legal avenues. She dismissed claims of behind-the-scenes negotiations, asserting that Imran is committed to proving his innocence and will contest any conviction in higher courts.
She also accused the government of pressuring Imran into accepting a deal, claiming attempts were made to send him abroad for three years or place him under house arrest in exchange for his silence.
Imran’s legal team faces difficulties as PTI negotiators struggle to secure direct access to him for consultations on ongoing talks with the coalition government. Aleema revealed Imran’s two key demands in the discussions: forming a judicial commission to investigate the incidents of May 9 and November 26, and releasing political prisoners.
Despite two rounds of negotiations, PTI legal representatives, including Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, have yet to meet Imran in person. Gohar dismissed speculation about backdoor negotiations involving Imran’s wife, Bushra Bibi, clarifying that she is not involved in the process.
On the £190 million case, Gohar expressed optimism about Imran and Bushra Bibi’s acquittal, citing witness testimonies that reportedly absolve them of direct involvement in the alleged wrongdoing. Meanwhile, Imran has set a January 31 deadline for the government to demonstrate a serious commitment to resolving the issues.
