Imran Khan sentenced to 14 years in Al-Qadir Trust corruption case; wife Bushra Bibi gets 7 years

Pak ex-PM Imran Khan, wife Bushra Bibi convicted in Al-Qadir Trust case

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for his involvement in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust corruption case. His wife, Bushra Bibi, was handed a 7-year jail term for her role in the same case. The verdict marks a significant development in Pakistan’s political and legal landscape.

The Al-Qadir Trust case: Background and allegations

The case, filed by Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau (NAB), accuses Khan of misusing his authority to facilitate the illicit transfer of funds originally intended for the state. According to the NAB, funds amounting to Rs.50 billion, repatriated to Pakistan by the United Kingdom during Khan’s tenure, were redirected into an account designated for land payments by Bahria Town Karachi.

The NAB alleges that in exchange for legalizing this amount, Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi received substantial monetary benefits and land covering hundreds of kanals from Bahria Town Ltd. Property tycoon Malik Riaz Hussain and other key figures, including Ahmed Ali Riaz, Mirza Shehzad Akbar, and Zulfi Bukhari, were also named in the case but were declared absconders after failing to join the investigation.

The case is tied to Khan’s Al-Qadir University Project Trust, which was allegedly used as a front to channel funds. Despite being given multiple opportunities to clarify his actions, the NAB claimed that Khan deliberately refused to provide the required information.

Legal proceedings and the verdict

The couple was indicted on February 27, 2023, shortly after Pakistan’s controversial general elections. The accountability court initially scheduled the verdict for December 23, 2023, but postponed it to January 6, 2024, due to winter vacations. Khan, who had been in prison since August 2023, was present for the decision.

According to the NAB, the evidence established Khan’s “pivotal role” in the corruption scheme. Despite his defense team’s assertions of political victimization, the court delivered the guilty verdict, sentencing Khan to 14 years and Bushra Bibi to 7 years in prison.

Imran Khan’s legal troubles

Imran Khan, who was once hailed as a reformist leader, has faced numerous legal challenges since leaving office. While he was acquitted in the Cipher and Iddat cases in 2024, fresh charges, including the Toshakhana 2 case, surfaced in December. Khan has repeatedly claimed that the cases against him are politically motivated, a sentiment echoed by his supporters.

Arrest of Bushra Bibi

Bushra Bibi was arrested at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, where Khan has been imprisoned since his earlier convictions. She was present for the court’s announcement of the verdict. Her arrest marks a significant escalation in the legal proceedings against the couple.

Reactions to the verdict

Sources close to Khan have criticized the verdict, claiming it was delivered under pressure from Pakistan’s military establishment. “The judges were already told by the army to deliver on certain lines,” a source alleged. They also claimed that Khan was denied a fair trial throughout the proceedings.

Wider implications

The sentencing of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi highlights the deepening intersection of politics and law in Pakistan. The case has drawn attention to allegations of systemic corruption and the judiciary’s role in high-profile cases. It also raises questions about the future of Khan’s political movement and the broader implications for Pakistan’s governance and stability.

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