On Thursday, an Accountability Court once again postponed the indictment of Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in the £190 million National Crime Agency (NCA) scam, commonly referred to as the Al-Qadir Trust case. The hearing, held at Adiala Jail and presided over by Judge Muhammad Bashir, saw the delay in framing charges due to Bushra Bibi’s absence.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Deputy Prosecutor General Sardar Muzzafar Abbasi, Prosecutor Amjad Perviz, and Irfan Bola were present during the proceedings. However, with Bushra Bibi missing from the session, the court adjourned the case until January 31.
The NCA £190 million scandal involves an investigation by the NAB against Imran Khan, his wife, and others for allegedly acquiring extensive land under the pretext of the Al-Qadir University Trust, resulting in a reported loss of £190 million to the national exchequer. The charges claim that the accused, including the former prime minister, manipulated Rs50 billion (equivalent to 190 million pounds at the time) sent by Britain’s National Crime Agency to the government. Imran Khan established the Trust for the Al-Qadir University Project on December 26, 2019.
In related developments, Bushra Bibi’s bail was extended in the Tosha Khana and Al-Qadir Trust cases. The court’s decision to defer the indictment adds another layer of complexity to the legal proceedings surrounding the alleged financial irregularities.
