PM Imran Khan Granted Bail in £190 Million Corruption Case

Islamabad, Pakistan – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday approved the bail petition of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in the high-profile £190 million National Crime Agency (NCA) settlement reference. This decision marks a significant development in the ongoing legal battles faced by the former Prime Minister.

A two-member bench, led by IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, had reserved the verdict on Tuesday following extensive arguments presented by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor, Amjad Parvez. The court announced the short verdict verbally in an open court, ordering the release of Imran Khan against a surety bond of Rs1 million. A detailed order will be issued later.

The £190 million NCA reference, filed by the NAB Rawalpindi in December last year, includes charges against Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, and other notable figures such as Farhat Shezadi (Farah Gogi), Mirza Shehzad Akbar, and Zulfi Bukhari. The NAB alleges that the accused engaged in corruption and corrupt practices under the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999, in connection with a settlement involving a prominent property tycoon.

The case centers around the alleged misuse of £190 million sent by Britain’s National Crime Agency to the Pakistani government. The funds were purportedly part of a settlement with the property tycoon, intended for the national exchequer. However, Khan and the other accused allegedly adjusted Rs50 billion (equivalent to £190 million at the time) for personal benefit, including the acquisition of 458 kanals of land in Mouza Bakrala, Sohawa, to establish Al-Qadir University.

Imran Khan, who was ousted from power through a no-confidence motion in April 2022, has faced numerous legal challenges since his removal. He has been imprisoned since August last year, with convictions in cases such as the Toshakhana case, cipher case, and illegal marriage case. Despite securing bail in the NCA settlement reference, Khan remains behind bars due to his other convictions.

During Khan’s tenure as Prime Minister, the NCA seized assets worth £190 million from the property tycoon in Britain, which were intended to be transferred to the Pakistani government. The settlement, approved by Khan’s cabinet without public disclosure, has since become a focal point of the NAB’s investigation into alleged corruption.

The establishment of the Al-Qadir Trust, shortly after the cabinet’s approval of the settlement, involved key PTI figures including Zulfi Bukhari, Babar Awan, Bushra Bibi, and Farah Khan. The trust’s registration and subsequent land transfers have been scrutinized for potential misuse of power and illicit gain.

As Imran Khan navigates the complex web of legal challenges, the IHC’s decision to grant bail in the NCA settlement case is a pivotal moment. However, with ongoing investigations and multiple convictions, the former Prime Minister’s legal and political future remains uncertain.