An Islamabad accountability court on Monday deferred until Jan. 6 its verdict in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust corruption reference against former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra.
Last week, the court had said it would announce the verdict today (Monday).
Both Khan and his wife were indicted in the case on Feb. 27, shortly after the general elections. The case alleges that the former prime minister and his wife received billions of rupees and hundreds of kanals of land from Bahria Town for legalizing funds identified and returned to Pakistan by the United Kingdom during the previous PTI government.
Presiding over the hearing today, judge Nasir Javed Rana said he was deferring the announcement of the verdict due to winter vacations and an upcoming course at the high court he would be participating in.
Reacting to the development, a PTI spokesperson claimed this proved “manipulation” of the judiciary. He claimed the PTI expected its founder to be discharged from the case. Most legal experts, however, say the case files on record suggest a conviction for the former prime minister. Khan maintains the case if “politically motivated.”