The accountability court of Islamabad released a detailed 148-page verdict in the 190 million pound reference against PTI Chairman Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, laying bare a series of allegations.
The court highlighted misuse of authority, financial misconduct, and violations of state interest.
Key allegations from verdict:
-
The court accused Imran Khan of malice as former prime minister, alleging that he presented an additional agenda note in a cabinet meeting and insisted on its approval without discussion. The intent was to conceal illegal dealings and misuse authority.
-
The verdict stated that Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi received financial benefits from property tycoon Malik Riaz. These included 458 kanals of land, Rs285 million in cash, and a building valued at Rs280 million, all under the pretext of donations to the Al-Qadir Trust.
Bushra Bibi played an important role in obtaining these benefits from Malik Riaz. -
Imran Khan, through Farhat Shahzadi aka Farah Gogi, acquired over 240 kanals of land in Mohra Noor, Islamabad. However, no evidence of payment amounting to Rs530 million for this land was provided. The court noted that Farhat Shahzadi, one of the trustees of Al-Qadir Trust along with Imran and Bushra and their front person, failed to prove she possessed the resources to purchase the land.
- Former PM's aide Shehzad Akbar was accused of acting with malice to benefit the Malik Riaz family, harming state interests. The verdict stated that Akbar bypassed the Law Ministry to maintain secrecy. Imran Khan was well aware of Akbar's proven malice.
The accused, Imran Khan, approved the document to keep the deal secret without the cabinet's approval. Getting the additional agenda approved from the cabinet in a sealed envelope was an attempt to hide the crime. The PTI founder misused his authority over this illegal move.
Also Read: Imran Khan sentenced to 14-year prison in £190m case
-
The verdict revealed that giving the registrar's account for Malik Riaz’s penalties rather than the national treasury was a rather surprising move. The Ministry of Finance confirmed that the registrar's account did not belong to the state of Pakistan. This act misled the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and caused financial damage to Pakistan.
-
On June 14, 2022, the Supreme Court overturned the PTI cabinet’s decision, ordering the funds to be sent to a state account. It declared the transaction a misuse of national wealth and labeled it an attempt to settle Malik Riaz’s debts. It also called it a robbery from someone to pay someone else.
The accused, in collusion with others, knowingly transferred state money to Malik Riaz's account. His front person, Farhat Shahzadi, also obtained the land at Mohra Noor in return for the same.
Key observations:
- The secrecy surrounding the financial transaction was unjustified, with the verdict emphasizing that the funds were national wealth. The court said the PTI founder's stance that documents were kept secret to return the funds to the state is not correct. This money was never received by the state on the basis of approval of a closed envelope.
- The former PM's discretionary power to relax the rules can only be used for a solid reason. This move is based on malice and was hasty and unjustifiable. This money was national wealth that had no justification to be kept secret.
- The haste and lack of consultation with key ministries -- foreign affairs, law, and finance -- violated standard protocols.
- Bushra Bibi was directly implicated for signing donation documents, aiding the misuse of authority.
Court’s conclusion:
The court criticized the accused for manipulating rules for personal gain, labeling the actions as deliberate and malicious. It asserted that national wealth cannot be used to pay private debts, describing the conduct as a breach of public trust.
