Another delay in Khan’s £190 million case verdict sparks speculation of a deal

The verdict in the multi-million-dollar reference case against Pakistan's main opposition leader, Imran Khan, and his wife, Bushra Bibi, was postponed again on Monday.

The Islamabad-based accountability court informed that the decision would now be announced on January 13, citing the delay due to the judge's leave.

The repeated delays in the judgment hint at a possible deal between the establishment and the former prime minister, experts say.

The corruption reference was filed two years ago, and the trial took place inside a Rawalpindi prison. The case involved 35 prosecution witnesses, all cross-examined by Khan's legal team. Key witnesses included his former principal secretary Azam Khan and ex-Defense Minister Pervez Khattak.

Judge Nasir Javed Rana initially set the verdict for December 23. However, the court deferred the announcement till January 6, and now to January 13.

Possible deal?

Sources suggest these unannounced postponements could be linked to ongoing negotiations between Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and the government.

The key demands in these talks include the release of political prisoners, including Khan, and a judicial inquiry into the events of May 9, 2023, when PTI supporters attacked key military installations, and the incidents of last November, when law enforcement opened live fire on PTI protesters in Islamabad.

Imran Shafique, a former prosecutor for the corruption watchdog National Accountability Bureau (NAB), told Nukta that the delay is "indeed raising eyebrows".

"The ongoing delay is fueling speculation that the verdict is being delayed due to behind-the-scenes negotiations between the government and the opposition, with the ultimate goal of securing Imran Khan's release," he said.

He further said this perception is damaging, as it suggests that the court is not acting independently, but rather as a party to political negotiations.

The case in question, he said, is considered a strong case against Imran Khan on its merits. "However, the timing and handling of the case have led many to believe that it was politically motivated," he added.

Abdul Moiz Jaferii, a lawyer and member of the Awaam Pakistan party, told Nukta that the repeated delays in announcing the judgment have sparked speculation that is “not remotely related to the law and procedure.” He noted that while these rumors are unsubstantiated, they undermine public confidence in the judiciary’s independence and the rule of law.

“On the face of it, judgments can suffer procedural delays if the court requires more time to finalize its reasoning,” Jaferii said. “However, prior intimation to the parties through the court registry is usually possible. It is highly irregular for such delays to become public knowledge and to be discussed in connection with matters beyond the judicial process.”

What's the case?

The case pertains to £190 million transferred to Pakistan by the U.K.’s National Crime Agency (NCA). Prosecutors allege Khan and Bushra Bibi illegally benefited from the funds through the Al-Qadir Trust.

The money allegedly was part of a confidential settlement between the NCA and the family of real estate tycoon, Malik Riaz.

Khan's cabinet approved the settlement in December 2019. Investigators claim Riaz provided 458 kanals (22.7 hectares) of land to Khan and his wife in exchange for legal cover for the settlement.

In a written response, Khan denied any wrongdoing, asserting that the funds were transferred on the account holder's instructions, not by the government, and dismissed allegations of financial loss to the state.

“The funds were part of a legal settlement with no involvement or benefit for me or my family,” Khan stated, adding that no facilitation was provided for transferring the funds to the Supreme Court of Pakistan's account.

Khan further argued that the transfer resulted from an out-of-court settlement between Riaz’s family and the British agency.

The former prime minister is currently jailed after being convicted in various graft cases, which his supporters say are politically motivated.