Imran Khan, the incarcerated founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has criticized the repeated delays in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case verdict, calling them a tactic by the government to apply pressure. Speaking outside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail on Monday, his sister, Aleema Khan, shared that Imran believes these delays are meant 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 earlier delays on December 23 and January 6.
Aleema explained that Imran Khan wants the verdict to be delivered soon so the public can see the truth about the case. She reaffirmed his commitment to legally challenging the charges and rejected any claims of behind-the-scenes negotiations. Imran is determined to prove his innocence and will fight any conviction in a higher court.
Aleema also accused the government of trying to force Imran into an NRO-style deal, first by offering him a chance to go abroad for three years and later proposing house arrest in exchange for his silence. Meanwhile, Imran’s legal team faces difficulties in negotiating with the coalition government, as they have not been allowed to meet with him directly to discuss important matters.
According to Aleema, Imran has set out a two-point agenda for the negotiations: the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the incidents of May 9 and November 26, and the release of political prisoners. Despite two rounds of talks, PTI negotiators, including Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, have not been able to meet with Imran. Gohar also dismissed rumors that Imran’s wife, Bushra Bibi, was involved in backdoor negotiations, clarifying that she is not part of the process. Imran has set a deadline of January 31 for the government to show real progress in resolving these issues.
