ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan reaffirmed his commitment to the rule of law following his conviction in the £190 million reference, declaring his readiness to endure imprisonment for as long as necessary.
This was shared by his lawyer, Faisal Chaudhry, after meeting Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, at Adiala Jail. Chaudhry disclosed that Bushra Bibi expressed unwavering support for her husband, stating, “I stand with him and will continue to do so.”
Chaudhry also confirmed that Bushra Bibi would soon be transferred to a cell in Adiala Jail. Despite the sentencing, he expressed optimism, asserting, “We will win this match for justice and fairness, and Imran Khan will prevail.”
An accountability court in Islamabad, after three delays, convicted Khan and Bushra Bibi in the case. Judge Nasir Javed Rana sentenced Khan to 14 years in prison and his wife to seven years, along with imposing significant fines of Rs1 million and Rs0.5 million, respectively. Failure to pay the fines will result in additional imprisonment of six months for Khan and three months for Bushra Bibi.
The £190 million case, also known as the Al-Qadir Trust case, pertains to allegations that in 2019, Khan and others facilitated the adjustment of Rs50 billion (£190 million at the time) transferred by Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to the Pakistani government during his tenure.
PTI Chairman Gohar revealed that Khan has called for continued negotiations, allowing talks to proceed for seven days. He added that Khan’s morale remains high and expressed confidence that the sentences would be overturned.
The PTI has announced its intention to appeal the judgment in higher courts. Senior PTI leader Omar Ayub criticized the verdict, vowing to challenge it.
In contrast, Information Minister Ataullah Tarar defended the court’s decision, calling the conviction merit-based and an “open-and-shut case.” He emphasized that the case adhered to legal procedures and accused Khan’s defense of using religious sentiments during the trial.
