Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, on Thursday called for a swift verdict in the Al-Qadir Trust case, saying the judiciary’s credibility was at stake, Express News reported.
Speaking to reporters outside the Islamabad High Court, she questioned the delay in announcing a decision. "The judge heard the case at length. Now, he should deliver the verdict. Why is he not doing so?" she asked.
Aleema Khan dismissed speculation that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party was looking to US President elect Donald Trump for support. "Has the PTI pinned any hopes on Trump? Why do you keep asking such questions? Has Imran Khan been sitting in jail for 18 months waiting for him?" she said.
She insisted that her brother was in prison to prove his innocence. "Give him credit for that," she added.
Calling the Al-Qadir Trust case "foolish," Aleema Khan said PTI was merely enduring court dates. She alleged that journalists who report fairly on prison conditions are not granted access to Khan.
She reiterated her demand for an immediate ruling. "We pray that the verdict is announced tomorrow," she said, adding that Imran Khan had full confidence in the judiciary. "It is no longer his test; it is the judiciary’s test now. Some will pass, and some will fail."
Aleema Khan suggested the verdict was predetermined and criticised delays in its announcement. "If acquittal was meant to happen, it would have happened on day one," she said. "If a judge makes a biased or wrongful decision, the media will hold them accountable."
She claimed that Imra Khan had sent a message saying the verdict was originally expected on Dec. 23, then on Jan. 6, and now the decision had allegedly leaked before its official announcement. She accused authorities of delaying the ruling to pressure Imran Khan into a deal.
She said Imran Khan had called for "neutral umpires" to investigate the events of May 9 and Nov. 26, referencing his past role in introducing neutral umpires in cricket. "Whoever is guilty, whether in PTI or not, should be punished," she quoted him as saying.
She also accused authorities of detaining people without evidence. "We face cases, yet no investigation officer has ever told us what the evidence is," she said.
Aleema Khan insisted PTI was not negotiating a deal but had formed a committee to engage with the government. "We have never closed doors to dialogue, but Khan has put forward two demands," she said without elaborating.
Commenting on a reported meeting between PTI leaders Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Ali Amin Gandapur with Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir, she said, "If such a meeting took place, it is a welcome development."
She also claimed that donors continued to support PTI-linked institutions such as Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital and Namal University, despite legal challenges.
The Al-Qadir Trust case relates to allegations that Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, received financial benefits in exchange for granting legal cover to a real estate tycoon. Khan denies wrongdoing and claims the charges are politically motivated.
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