Both negotiating sides want Imran Khan to remain in jail: Faisal Vawda

Senator Faisal Vawda said negotiators from both the government and PTI want Imran Khan to remain in jail. Commenting on the announcement of the £190m verdict in the PTI case, he warned against an appeal to the High Court and predicted it would end in disappointment. Speaking to a private TV channel, Vawda criticized the handling of corruption cases during the PTI government. “When this disastrous order was presented to the government, I said he would end up in prison. It was always a straightforward, open and shut case,” he said. Vawda also accused the PTI leader of wrongly settling with Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and said, “A loss of Rs 100 billion has been caused to the country. The evidence of corruption is clear.” The senator did not spare Imran Khan either, who claimed that his political and personnel changes since 2018 had led to the downfall of the party. “Before 2018, Imran Khan was honest. However, his new marriage brought chaos, corruption and fighting,” claimed Vawda. He also criticized the changing attitude towards the Pakistan Army. “Yesterday the army was praised; today it is criticized. This inconsistency is harmful,” he added. Vawda predicted further unrest, noting that continued talks and political strategies would bring little relief to the PTI. “Come January 20, the so-called ‘trump card’ will lose its effect and desperation will grow,” he said. Vawda highlighted internal dissent, claiming that several ministers from Khan’s tenure testified against him on condition of anonymity. “Their press conferences today hide the truth about their past betrayals,” he claimed. Vawda concluded by stressing that Imran Khan faces further legal challenges, adding: “The tough times have only just begun and will continue.” Imran, Bushra convicted in £190m case; sentenced to 14 and 7 years Former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were sentenced in the £190 million case on Friday. Imran Khan was sentenced to 14 years in prison while Bushra Bibi was given seven years in prison. Accountability Court Judge Nasir Javed Rana announced the order in a courtroom at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, where Imran has been detained for over a year. In addition to the jail terms, the court imposed fines of Rs 1 million on Imran and Rs 500,000 on Bushr. If the fines are not paid, Imran Khan will serve an additional six months in jail and Bushra Bibi will face an additional three months. The verdict also stated that the assets of the “sham trust”, the Al-Qadir University Project Trust, were to be forfeited to the federal government in accordance with Section 10(a) of the National Accountability Regulations 1999. The verdict was announced under strict security measures outside the prison. After the verdict, Bushra Bibi was immediately arrested in the courtroom. It must be noted that Justice Rana reserved the verdict in the case on December 18 and adjourned the case to December 23. However, the court postponed the announcement of the order on December 23 without giving reasons. On January 6, the next day of the hearing, the verdict was again not released because the judge was attending a training session held for all district and session judges. Before the final hearing of the case, court staff informed Imran and Bushra’s lawyers that the judge would issue a verdict on January 13, but the court postponed the verdict again that day after Imran Khan and his wife failed to appear. appear in court.