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The Accountability Court in Rawalpindi has postponed its verdict for the third time in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case against Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi. Judge Nasir Javed Rana announced the delay on Monday due to the absence of both the accused and their defence counsel. The court had initially reserved the judgment on December 18, 2023, and the verdict was previously deferred on December 23 and January 6.

Judge Nasir Javed Rana said he arrived at the court at 8:30 am and sent two summons to Imran Khan to appear before the court. However, neither Imran Khan nor Bushra Bibi attended the hearing. The absence of the defence counsel further delayed the proceedings. The verdict is now scheduled to be announced on January 17.

Allegations and Case Background

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) filed a corruption reference against Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi, and seven others in the Al-Qadir Trust case. According to NAB, the accused caused a loss of £190 million (Rs50 billion at the time) to the national exchequer.

The investigation revealed that the National Crime Agency (NCA) in Britain had sent £190 million to the Pakistani government. NAB alleges that Imran Khan, his wife, and others adjusted the amount for personal benefit. The former prime minister also reportedly received hundreds of canals of land for the Al-Qadir University Trust in exchange for facilitating this adjustment.

Imran Khan had registered the Al-Qadir University Trust on December 26, 2019, aiming to develop an educational institution. However, NAB claims that the project was used as a front for corruption.

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Court Proceedings at Adiala Jail

The accountability court conducted multiple hearings at Adiala Jail before reserving the verdict in December. Both the prosecution and defence teams had presented their arguments over the past year. Judge Nasir Javed Rana stressed that the court had completed its process, but the absence of the accused and their counsel hindered the final judgment.

On Monday, Judge Rana left Adiala Jail after deferring the verdict. This marks another delay in the high-profile case, which continues to draw significant public and media attention. The court has directed all parties to ensure their presence for the next hearing on January 17.

The Al-Qadir Trust case remains one of the most significant corruption cases involving a former prime minister in Pakistan. Critics argue that frequent delays in the judgment undermine the judicial process. However, the court has assured that the verdict will be delivered without further postponements.

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