The Al-Qadir Trust Case: Imran Khan Sentenced to 14 Years

On January 17, 2025, an accountability court in Islamabad sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan to 14 years in prison and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to 7 years concerning a corruption case involving £190 million. This case centers on the alleged illicit transfer of funds, handled by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and intended for the Pakistani government. Imran Khan has been in detention at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail for over a year, and the trial took more than a year to reach this verdict.

The judge, Nasir Javed Rana, initially reserved the judgment in December 2023 and deferred announcing it multiple times. Despite setting hearings on January 6 and 13, the court postponed the verdict due to procedural reasons, including the failure of the accused to appear for the hearings. The final judgment was delivered in a courtroom inside the jail, highlighting the significance and sensitivity of the case.

The £190 million case revolves around funds transferred by the NCA to Pakistan, which were supposed to be directed to the Pakistani government. Imran Khan, during his tenure as prime minister, approved this settlement in December 2019 without revealing crucial details. The transfer was meant to address proceeds of crime and had conditions that included submitting the funds to Pakistan’s Supreme Court. However, according to officials from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Khan and his wife received land worth billions of rupees, intended for constructing an educational institute, instead of facilitating the legitimate use of the funds.

The NAB filed a reference against eight individuals, including Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi, on December 1, 2023, accusing them of corruption. On January 6, 2024, six other accused, who had fled the country, were declared proclaimed offenders by the court. The trial saw the indictment of Imran and his wife on February 27, 2024, and the prosecution presented 35 witnesses to establish their case. However, the defense did not present any witnesses during the proceedings.

Key witnesses included Azam Khan, Imran’s former principal secretary, and former ministers Pervez Khattak and Zubaida Jalal. These witnesses testified about the opaque nature of the agreement related to the £190 million. For instance, Khattak revealed that in December 2019, he was present during a meeting where a confidential deed related to the funds was brought by Mirza Shahzad Akbar, the former accountability adviser, and was approved by the cabinet. Azam Khan also confirmed that the deed, which was not disclosed to other ministers, was presented to Imran Khan for approval.

The case centers on the Al-Qadir University Trust and an alleged illicit transfer of funds, which were supposedly designated for state purposes but were instead directed towards the payment of land by Bahria Town, Karachi. It is alleged that Imran Khan played a central role in facilitating this transfer, despite being given multiple chances to clarify and justify the transactions. NAB argued that the accused deliberately withheld information and obstructed the investigation.

Several other individuals, including property tycoon Malik Riaz Hussain, his son Ahmed Ali Riaz, and former PTI officials like Zulfi Bukhari and Farhat Shahzadi, are also implicated in the case. These individuals, however, absconded and were later declared proclaimed offenders. The NAB also alleged that these figures benefited from the adjustment of the £190 million, with land being transferred to associates of Imran Khan and his wife, including Shahzadi and Bukhari. According to NAB, a trust was created only after the funds had been adjusted, casting doubt on its legitimacy and the true purpose behind these transactions.

In July 2024, additional testimonies from key figures, including Pervez Khattak and Azam Khan, shed light on the lack of transparency in the cabinet’s decision-making process. These testimonies further solidified the prosecution’s case, and the court proceeded with the trial, despite the absence of some accused individuals.

PTI has rejected the verdict, asserting that Imran Khan is innocent and that the decision was made to weaken him. However, they maintain that Khan will never waver from his principled stance on democracy and civilian supremacy.

The case has been a major development in Pakistan’s ongoing anti-corruption efforts, highlighting the complex and controversial dealings involving high-ranking officials and powerful individuals. The court’s verdict marks a significant step in addressing the allegations against Imran Khan and his associates.