£190 million case: IHC bars trial court from issuing final verdict on Imran Khan’s petition
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has temporarily paused the accountability court from issuing a final verdict in the £190 million settlement case involving former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi.
A two-judge bench, led by Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, reviewed the couple’s request for acquittal in this matter. Imran Khan filed the plea on September 7 following a Supreme Court decision regarding amendments made by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). This decision acknowledged intra-court appeals that challenged last year’s ruling, which had invalidated changes to the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO).
The couple is facing allegations of causing billion of rupees loss to the national treasury.
They have also petitioned the IHC to intervene against the accountability court’s earlier ruling, requesting that trial proceedings be suspended while the case is under consideration in the high court.
As a result, the IHC ordered the trial court to complete judicial proceedings, however, it should not issue a final decision.
After hearing arguments, the IHC ordered the trial court to complete proceedings, however, it should not issue a final judgment.
The lawyers for Bushra and Khan were also instructed by the IHC. the court also adjourned the hearing till September 26.
£190 Million Case
The allegations in this case suggest that Khan and others were involved in the misappropriation of Rs50 billion (equivalent to £190 million at the time) that was transferred by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to the Pakistani government in connection with a property tycoon.
In December 2019, then-Prime Minister Khan secured cabinet approval for a settlement with the NCA, but he did not disclose details of the agreement. The plan included transferring the funds to the Supreme Court on behalf of the property tycoon.
NAB officials alleged that Khan and his wife received land valued in the billions from this tycoon to establish an educational institution, in exchange for facilitating legal protection for the tycoon’s illicit funds from the UK crime agency.
