RAWALPINDI: Former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, has been sentenced a 14-year prison , while his wife, Bushra Bibi, has got a seven-year sentence in connection with the Al-Qadir University Project Trust corruption case. The accountability court also fined Khan 1 million Pakistani rupees (around USD3,500), and Bibi was fined half that amount.

The verdict, announced by a special court operating from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, follows allegations of misuse of authority tied to the establishment of the trust. Khan has been detained in Adiala Jail since August 2023, with the decision delayed several times before being finalized. Following the announcement, Bushra Bibi was arrested on-site.

This is Khan's fourth major conviction, adding to his legal challenges. Previously, he was found guilty in cases involving state gifts, leaking classified information, and an unlawful marriage, though those rulings were later overturned or suspended. Dozens of other legal cases are still pending against him, and Khan has consistently referred to these as politically motivated attacks aimed at discrediting him.

Protests and Allegations in the Al-Qadir Trust Case

Khan’s troubles with the Al-Qadir Trust case began with his arrest in May 2023, which sparked widespread protests by his supporters. The case centers on allegations of improper land acquisition worth billions of rupees for a nonprofit educational institute under the trust. Malik Riaz, a prominent property developer, was accused of facilitating the land transfer.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) claimed Khan, during his tenure as prime minister from 2018 to 2022, entered a quid pro quo deal with Riaz. This arrangement allegedly enabled the laundering of USD239 million, causing significant financial losses to Pakistan. Additionally, the NAB accused Khan’s government of protecting illicit funds recovered from Riaz by the UK’s National Crime Agency, which were intended for the national treasury.

Defense and Political Backdrop

Khan’s lawyer, Faisal Fareed Chaudhry, has rejected the verdict, calling it part of a campaign to target the former leader and his wife. Chaudhry argued that the NAB failed to establish any financial loss to the state or prove personal financial gains for Khan or his family. “The case is entirely politically driven,” Chaudhry stated.

The Al-Qadir Trust, founded by Khan and Bushra Bibi in 2018, is a welfare organization focusing on Islamic education and spirituality. Critics allege the trust served as a front for corruption, citing claims that land and funds were misappropriated under the guise of nonprofit operations.

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah accused Khan of accepting bribes in the form of land from Malik Riaz. He further alleged that 190 million-Pound recovered from Riaz in a UK investigation was misused by Khan’s government instead of being deposited into the national treasury.

The trust also reportedly received significant operational funds, though records suggest only a fraction was accounted for.

Political Tensions Continue

Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has dismissed the ruling, calling it politically motivated. Meanwhile, ongoing negotiations between the PTI and the current government, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, include discussions about Khan’s possible release.

As Khan faces this latest legal setback, political tensions in Pakistan remain high, with critics divided over whether the case represents accountability or political retribution.