RAWALPINDI: The accountability court has once again delayed its verdict in the £190 million case involving Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi. This marks the third postponement of the judgment.
Accountability court Judge Nasir Javed expressed frustration over the absence of the accused. He shared his dismay with reporters, saying, “I have been sitting in the courtroom for two hours, but none of them have appeared today.” The judge, who arrived at the court at 8:30 am, decided to reschedule the verdict announcement, saying, “Let’s give them another chance.”
The case, often referred to as the £190 million case, revolves around allegations that Rs50 billion—equivalent to £190 million at the time—was misused. The funds were sent by Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to the Pakistani government under a settlement with a property tycoon.
Imran Khan had earlier claimed that the repeated delays, first on December 23, 2024, and then on January 6, 2025, were intended to pressure him. However, neither he nor his wife appeared in court today.
The National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) prosecution team, media personnel, and court staff were present at the scheduled time. The sentence announcement, initially planned for 11 am, was deferred before that due to the absence of the defense.
The accountability court had previously filed a reference in December 2023 against the couple and others. The case involves accusations of misusing significant funds returned by the NCA, which should have been utilized for Pakistan’s benefit.
The delay has raised questions about the proceedings of this high-profile £190 million case. Judge Nasir Javed’s remarks reflect his growing impatience over the lack of cooperation from the accused.
