An accountability court on Thursday linked its decision on former first lady Bushra Bibi’s acquittal in the £190 million case with its final judgment, which remains pending due to multiple absences of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s lawyers.
Both Khan and Bushra are accused of causing billions of rupees in losses to the national exchequer through facilitation of Bahria Town owner Malik Riaz, who paid a fine imposed on him by the Supreme Court through funds recovered by the U.K.’s NCA and returned to Islamabad.
A day earlier, accountability court Judge Nasir Javed Rana had reserved his verdict on Bushra’s acquittal petition, with local media reporting the decision would be announced on Thursday. However, as hearings resumed at Adiala Jail, the judge announced he would render a decision with the final verdict in the case. He then adjourned proceedings until Sept. 7, when the defense is once again set to cross-examine NAB Investigation Officer Mian Umar Nadeem, who is the final witness.
Khan has been detained since August 2023, while Bushra was arrested in January. He was initially incarcerated at Attock Jail before being transferred to Adiala Jail, while she was initially under house arrest before also being transferred to Adiala Jail.