The Accountability Court of Islamabad has sentenced Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Founder Imran Khan to 14 years in prison and a Rs1 million fine after finding him guilty in the £190 million reference case.
Imran’s wife, Bushra Bibi, has been sentenced to seven years in prison and a Rs500,000 fine.
The court has ordered the confiscation of land belonging to Al-Qadir University.
The verdict in the reference case was announced by Accountability Court Judge Nasir Javed Rana at Adiala Jail.
A warrant for the implementation of Bushra Bibi’s sentence has been sent to the jail administration.
The reference includes absconding suspects such as Malik Riaz, Ali Riaz, Farhat Shehzadi, Shehzad Akbar, Zulfi Bukhari, and Zia-ul-Mustafa Naseem. The court has issued permanent arrest warrants for the absconding accused.
Deputy Director of NAB, Mian Umar Nadeem, the investigation officer in the 190-million-pound reference case, was also present at Adiala Jail.
The trial for this high-profile case was completed on December 18, 2024. However, the verdict announcement has been delayed three times. Initially scheduled for December 23, 2024, it was postponed to January 6 and then to January 13 due to various reasons, including the accused’s absence. On January 14, the court issued a written order setting January 17 as the date for the final decision.
PTI Leadership Condemns Verdict, Vows to Appeal in High Court
Islamabad: Barrister Gohar, speaking on behalf of PTI, has termed the sentencing of Bushra Bibi as a continuation of controversial decisions, adding that such rulings are an embarrassment.
He stated, “The founder remarked that those who deliver unjust verdicts are rewarded with promotions. Despite the unjust treatment, neither the founder nor we are disheartened. Bushra Bibi, even after hearing the decision, smiled.”
Bushra Bibi has been sentenced to 7 years in prison, which PTI has called discriminatory and unfair. “This is a case of political revenge. The founder has committed no crime and gained no benefit,” Barrister Gohar emphasized.
The PTI leadership has announced plans to file an appeal in the High Court within a few days. “The founder will never give up or compromise. Soon, he will be exonerated and released with dignity,” Gohar said, expressing confidence in the judicial process.
Highlighting the founder’s 27-year struggle for justice, Gohar added, “Justice has not been served yet, but it will be achieved.”
Regarding ongoing negotiations, the founder has stated that talks will continue, but if no progress is made on the commission within 7 days, discussions will cease.
Gohar concluded by asserting that this sentence, like previous ones, will also be overturned, and that the founder has even placed a trust under government control in good faith.
