Jailed Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has criticized the repeated postponement of the verdict in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case, calling it a pressure tactic by the part of the government.
Aleema Khan, speaking to reporters outside Adiala Prison in Rawalpindi on Monday, said Imran had described the delay as an attempt to keep “a sword hanging around his neck”.
The accountability court in Islamabad postponed the verdict for the third time, moving it to January 13 after earlier delays on December 23 and January 6.
Aleema said Imran wants the verdict to be delivered so that the world can understand the true nature of the case, and is committed to fighting the accusations through legal means.
She also rejected any suggestion of behind-the-scenes negotiations, reiterating that Imran was focused on proving his innocence and would challenge any conviction in a higher court.
Additionally, she accused the government of trying to force Imran into an NRO-style deal, by first trying to send him abroad for three years and then offering to put him under house arrest. in exchange for his silence.
Imran’s legal team is also facing a significant challenge in the ongoing negotiations between the PTI and the coalition government, as they have been unable to meet Imran directly to discuss key points.
According to Aleema, Imran presented a two-point agenda for 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, PTI negotiators, including President Gohar Ali Khan, have yet to gain access to Imran, and they stress the importance of consulting him before moving forward with talks with the government.
Gohar also dismissed rumors of clandestine discussions involving Imran’s wife Bushra Bibi, clarifying that she was not part of the dialogue process. Meanwhile, Imran set January 31 as the deadline for the government to show seriousness in resolving the issues.
Regarding the £190 million case, Gohar expressed confidence that Imran and Bushra Bibi would be acquitted, pointing to testimonies that denied any direct involvement of the PTI chief in the alleged misconduct.