ISLAMABAD: The Accountability Court on Monday said the verdict in the £190 million reference against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi will be announced on January 6, 2025.

Justice Nasir Javed Rana held a hearing on the £190m reference against Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi. PTI counsel Khalid Chaudhry represented them in court.

During the hearing, the judge postponed the decision, citing the upcoming holidays and commitments with the High Court. Lawyer Khalid Chaudhry expected the verdict to be announced during the hearing. However, the court indicated that a new date will be announced soon.

Court staff later confirmed that the reserved verdict will now be announced on January 6.

The trial, which ended within a year, saw the NAB record 35 witnesses testify. The court reserved the verdict for December 18, originally scheduled for December 23.

A £190 million case

The £190 million case includes a reference filed by NAB against former prime minister Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi and others in December 2023.

The case revolves around an alleged settlement between the PTI government and a property tycoon that allegedly cost the Pakistani exchequer £190 million.

Khan and the accused allegedly misused £190m sent by Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) as part of the settlement. Bushra Bibi was named as an accused for her role as trustee of the Al-Qadir Trust.

In addition, the couple is accused of receiving undue benefits, including over 458 kanals of land in Mouza Bakrala, Sohawa, for the establishment of Al-Qadir University.

During Khan’s tenure, the NCA seized £190m worth of the tycoon’s assets. The property was to be handed over to Pakistan, with the NCA treating the settlement as a civil matter.

However, details of the confidential agreement were not disclosed when Khan’s cabinet approved it in December 2019. Al-Qadir Trust was subsequently established in Islamabad.