Verdict in £190m reference on Dec 23

Defence makes rejoinder to prosecution's final arguments Lawyer for Imran, Bushra term case political vendetta

RAWALPINDI:

The trial of former prime minister Imran Khan and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, in the £190 million corruption reference on Wednesday entered the final stage as an accountability court reserved its verdict in the case after defence made the rejoinder to the prosecution's final arguments.

Accountability Court Judge Nasir Javed Rana presided over the hearing inside Adiala Jail as Imran and his spouse appeared before the court. The court would pronounce the verdict on December 23 (Monday). It took almost a year to complete the trial.

In December, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had filed a corruption reference against Imran and seven others, including his wife, in connection with the Al-Qadir University.

The hearing at Adiala Jail took place for eight and a half hours. Barrister Salman Safdar, counsel for the couple, argued that the case was one of "political revenge", adding that the defence had been proved innocent in previous cases.

He said the case was one in which the matter involved PML-N President Nawaz Sharif's son, Hassan Nawaz, as well and yet the latter was not included in proceedings.

"The reference was made to target a specific couple. Before becoming the prime minister, the PTI founder was known as a social worker, collecting donations worth billions of rupees," he said.

"Political revenge has become so blind that social work has also been targeted. Not even a penny went into the pockets of the accused," he maintained.

The defence also argued that NAB changed its position in the reference to now saying that it was a matter of conflict of interest.

He argued that no personal benefit was availed in the matter, no settlement agreement was present, no witness from the National Crimes Agency was present and no land was transferred in Bushra Bibi's name.

On Tuesday, the prosecution, represented by NAB's lawyer Amjad Pervaiz, shed light on developments in the case and allegations against the former prime minister and his associates.

The accountability watchdog highlighted breaches of the Rules of Business 1973, arguing that any matter must be circulated seven days in advance before being tabled in the cabinet.

The prosecution alleged that a trust was created only after the adjustment of the 190 million pounds, raising doubts about its legitimacy and purpose.

The reference said the "accused […] were given multiple opportunities to justify and provide information, but they deliberately, with mala fide intention, refused to provide the information on one or the other pretext.

"Furthermore, it is established through their responses that they have nothing in their defence to rebut the above-mentioned allegations. Thus, they all have committed an offence" under the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO).

It added that the investigation proceedings and findings so far "established that accused persons in connivance with each other have committed the offence of corruption and corrupt practices" as defined under the NAO.