Pakistan’s main opposition leader, Imran Khan, and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were convicted Friday in a multi-million-pound corruption case.
Khan was sentenced to 14 years in prison, while Bushra Bibi was handed seven years in prison, according to the verdict read out inside Rawalpindi’s central prison Adiala where the hearing took place.
The verdict in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case came after three delays, fueling rumors of a backdoor deal with the military establishment.
The military, meanwhile, addressed concerns over politicization of a recent meeting between leaders of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and army chief Gen. Asim Munir, clarifying it focused on security.
The verdict was also announced in the backdrop of negotiations between the government and PTI with Khan’s release from jail emerging as their top demand.
The corruption reference was filed two years ago. The case involved 35 prosecution witnesses, all cross-examined by Khan’s legal team. Key witnesses included his former principal secretary Azam Khan and ex-Defense Minister Pervez Khattak.
What’s the case?
The case pertains to £190 million transferred to Pakistan by the U.K.’s National Crime Agency (NCA). Prosecutors allege Khan and Bushra Bibi illegally benefited from the funds through the Al-Qadir Trust.
The money allegedly was part of a confidential settlement between the NCA and the family of real estate tycoon, Malik Riaz.
Khan’s cabinet approved the settlement in December 2019. Investigators claim Riaz provided 458 kanals (22.7 hectares) of land to Khan and his wife in exchange for legal cover for the settlement.
In a written response, Khan denied any wrongdoing, asserting that the funds were transferred on the account holder’s instructions, not by the government, and dismissed allegations of financial loss to the state.
“The funds were part of a legal settlement with no involvement or benefit for me or my family,” Khan stated, adding that no facilitation was provided for transferring the funds to the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s account.
Khan further argued that the transfer resulted from an out-of-court settlement between Riaz’s family and the British agency.
The former prime minister is currently jailed after being convicted in various graft cases, which his supporters say are politically motivated.
