Imran Khan slams £190m verdict delay as 'pressure tactics'

Incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has criticised the repeated deferment of the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case verdict, calling it a pressure tactic by the government.

Aleema Khan, speaking to reporters outside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail on Monday, shared that Imran described the delay as an attempt to keep a "sword hanging over his neck."

The Islamabad accountability court postponed the verdict for the third time, rescheduling it for January 13 after prior delays on December 23 and January 6.

Aleema stated that Imran wants the verdict to be delivered so the world can understand the true nature of the case, and he is committed to fighting the charges through legal means.

She also rejected any suggestions of behind-the-scenes negotiations, reiterating that Imran is focused on proving his innocence and would challenge any conviction in a higher court.

Furthermore, she accused the government of trying to force Imran into an NRO-style deal, first attempting to send him abroad for three years and later offering him house arrest in exchange for silence.

Imran’s legal team is also facing a significant challenge in the ongoing negotiations between PTI and the coalition government, as they have been unable to meet with Imran directly to discuss key points.

According to Aleema, Imran has outlined a two-point agenda for the negotiations, including the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the May 9 and November 26 incidents and the release of political prisoners.

Despite two rounds of talks, the PTI negotiators, including Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, have yet to gain access to Imran, and they stress the importance of consulting him before moving forward in discussions with the government.

Gohar also dismissed rumors of backdoor talks involving Imran’s wife, Bushra Bibi, clarifying that she is not part of the dialogue process. Meanwhile, Imran has set a cut-off date of January 31 for the government to show seriousness in resolving the issues.

On the £190 million case, Gohar expressed confidence that both Imran and Bushra Bibi would be acquitted, pointing to testimony from witnesses who have denied any direct involvement of the PTI leader in the alleged misconduct.