The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday accepted a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and barred the trial court from announcing the final verdict in the £190 million settlement case—though directed it to continue proceedings.
A two-member divisional bench comprising Justices Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb and Babar Sattar also directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to submit records of its previous decision to close the graft case.
During the hearing, Khan’s counsel Salman Safdar noted that the proceedings in the reference against the former prime minister were ongoing, with the last of 35 witnesses under cross-examination. He noted that of the eight accused, six were absconders while only Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were being tried.
Referring to the £190 million remitted by the U.K.’s NCA in 2019, the lawyer argued that NAB had found the funds were to be transferred in the government’s account but were instead received in the Supreme Court’s bank account. To query, he said the Al-Qadir Trust was duly registered and was not a ‘ghost’ project. However, he subsequently said he was not sure of the trust’s registration status and would confirm and apprise the court.
During proceedings, Justice Hassan warned the PTI counsel against using delaying tactics in the trial court, adding that the stay on the final verdict would be vacated if such an attempt were observed.
The NAB inquiry into the £190 million case alleges then-P.M. Khan, his wife, and their co-accused facilitated the “adjustment” of £190 million sent by the NCA to the Pakistani government against a fine imposed on property tycoon Malik Riaz by the Supreme Court. In exchange, it is alleged, Khan and his wife were granted 458 kanals of land to establish the Al Qadir University.