RAWALPINDI: Imran Khan, the jailed founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has criticized the delay in the £190m case verdict, calling it a “pressure tactic” by the government. Speaking to reporters outside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, Imran’s sister, Aleema, quoted him as saying, “They want a sword hanging over my head by delaying the verdict on the £190m case.”
This remark came after Islamabad’s accountability court postponed the verdict, originally scheduled for today, until January 13. This marks the third delay in the case, also known as the Al-Qadir Trust case, after previous postponements on December 23 and January 6.
Aleema emphasized that Imran wants the court to deliver a verdict, as it would allow the world to see the nature of the case. She added that if a verdict is delivered, Imran would immediately appeal in the high court.
Imran’s sister also condemned the government’s suggestion that the PTI founder was seeking an NRO-like deal (a reference to the National Reconciliation Ordinance of 2007, which granted amnesty to politicians involved in corruption). She claimed that the government had tried to send Imran abroad for three years and offered him house arrest in exchange for silence, which he rejected. Imran has insisted that his release will be based on proving his innocence through legal means.
Aleema rejected claims of “backdoor talks” with Imran, stressing that the ongoing negotiations were formal, with a focus on two issues: the formation of a judicial commission for the May 9 and November 26 incidents and the release of political prisoners.
Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan reiterated the need for a meeting with Imran before the next round of government negotiations. Sources revealed that the ongoing deadlock between the PTI and the government was partly due to the inability of PTI negotiators to meet with Imran and present their demands in writing.
The negotiation process has been slow despite two rounds of talks on December 27, 2024, and January 2, 2025. Gohar confirmed that they had requested a meeting with Imran, though it had yet to be arranged. He also denied rumors of “backdoor talks” involving Bushra Bibi, Imran’s wife.
Regarding the £190m case, Gohar emphasized that Imran did not personally benefit from the Al-Qadir Trust and hoped for his acquittal, as witnesses had testified that Imran had no direct involvement in the case. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has accused Imran, his wife, and others of causing a £190m loss to the national exchequer through a settlement involving a property tycoon. This case is part of the multiple legal challenges faced by Imran, who has been incarcerated since August last year following his conviction in the Toshakhana case.
