Court Rejects Imran Khan's Acquittal Plea in £190 Million Corruption Case

An accountability court has dismissed former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi's petitions for acquittal in a £190 million corruption case. The court cited the National Accountability Ordinance of 1999. Khan has expressed fears of being court-martialed linked to the May 9 riots.

An accountability court has rejected the petitions of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, seeking acquittal in the £190 million corruption case under the amended National Accountability Ordinance of 1999, Dawn reported. Khan claimed the case initiated was based on a federal cabinet meeting, which, according to him, was protected by law.

Khan's petition argued that despite the case not falling under the ambit of the NAO, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) exceeded its jurisdiction, filing a false reference. The petition accused Khan of misusing his authority as prime minister in approving a confidential deed during a cabinet meeting in December 2019. In return, Khan allegedly received land and cash as donations for the Al-Qadir University Project Trust.

The petition further alleged that Khan and his wife, through an associate, received additional land from a co-accused for personal gain. The NAB prosecution stated that Khan misled the cabinet for approval of the deed. Accountability judge Nasir Javed Rana dismissed the petition.

Meanwhile, Khan, currently imprisoned in Adiala Jail, has approached the Islamabad High Court over fears of court martial linked to the May 9 riots. He cited recent apprehensions, including the arrest of former ISI Director-General Faiz Hameed and statements by federal officials suggesting he could be tried under the Pakistan Army Act, 1952. Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar indicated that it would be the provincial government's prerogative to decide on military court trials.

(With inputs from agencies.)