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Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, have been sentenced in a corruption case involving their welfare organization, the Al-Qadir Trust. Khan has been sentenced to 14 years in prison, while Bushra Bibi received a 7-year term. Additionally, Khan has been fined Rs 10,00,000 and Bibi Rs 500,000. If the fines are not paid, both face an additional six months in jail. The convictions are part of an investigation into illegal financial dealings and land transactions allegedly facilitated by the couple through the trust.
The case centers on the Al-Qadir Trust, which was established by Khan and Bushra Bibi. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) accused them of using the trust to channel illicit funds and legalize land transfers from Bahria Town Ltd. The land involved in the case includes 240 kanals, transferred from Bahria Town to individuals connected to the couple, such as Farhat Shahzadi, a close friend of Bushra Bibi, and Zulfi Bukhari, a former aide to Khan. According to NAB, these transfers were made to disguise illegal financial transactions and benefit the couple.
In addition to the land transactions, the case also involves the legalizing of Rs 50 billion recovered by the United Kingdom during Khan’s tenure as Prime Minister. NAB claimed that Khan played a key role in facilitating the transfer of these funds from the UK to the Al-Qadir Trust and subsequently using the trust to secure property deals. The case highlights the alleged involvement of Malik Riaz Hussain, a prominent real estate developer, whose family was reportedly involved in the land transfers. NAB alleges that Riaz’s son, Ahmed Ali Riaz, played a role in the illegal land dealings connected to the trust.
NAB’s charges assert that Khan and his wife misused their positions to transfer state funds into private accounts and legalize these illicit transfers under the guise of the Al-Qadir Trust. The prosecution argued that the trust was used to conceal the illicit funds and land transactions, which were not reported through proper legal channels. The land involved was allegedly registered under the names of individuals connected to Khan and his associates, allowing them to benefit from these illegal deals.
Since his arrest in August 2023, Khan has faced over 200 charges, including corruption, sedition, and terrorism. Despite the court ruling, Khan and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), have consistently denied the allegations, claiming that they are politically motivated. PTI leaders argue that the cases are designed to prevent Khan from returning to politics and block his participation in the upcoming elections.
Khan’s political trajectory has been marked by increasing tensions with Pakistan’s military establishment, which he accuses of orchestrating his removal from office in April 2022 through a no-confidence vote in parliament. Khan’s party had won the highest number of seats in the 2023 elections, but a crackdown on PTI leadership has hampered their ability to form a government. The conviction also disqualifies Khan from contesting the upcoming elections in February 2024, further complicating his political future.