An accountability court has adjourned the hearing of the £190 million reference involving Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, until July 30. The court session, presided over by Judge Muhammad Ali Warraich, was delayed when neither the defendants nor their lawyers appeared by the scheduled time of 10 am. The court then postponed the hearing for one hour before issuing a final warning to the defense regarding the cross-examination process.
As of today, 34 witnesses have provided their statements, and cross-examination of 33 witnesses has been completed. Notably, former federal minister Pervez Khattak testified on July 10, stating that Shehzad Akbar had informed him of illegal funds sent from Pakistan that were seized in Britain and would be returned. Khattak also noted that the issue was not on the cabinet’s agenda but was introduced as an additional item, with relevant documents presented in sealed envelopes.
Imran Khan responded to Khattak’s testimony by calling for the return of Nawaz Sharif’s London properties to Pakistan.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri previously granted bail to Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi in this case. Judge Muhammad Ali Warraich had approved Bushra Bibi’s bail on July 2.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) filed the corruption reference against Khan, his wife, and others last year, alleging they received land worth millions as a bribe through the Al-Qadir Trust.
