The Islamabad High Court (IHC) granted bail to PTI founder Imran Khan in the £190m Al-Qadir Trust case against one million rupees surety bonds.

A division bench comprising IHC Chief Justice Aamir Farooq, and Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangir heard the case.

The IHC verdict directed the authorities to release the PTI founder Imran Khan from Adiala Jail.

Separately, Islamabad District and Sessions Court acquitted PTI founder in two cases of vandalism registered during PTI Long March. Judicial Magistrate acquitted PTI founder's petition. The plea of acquittal is granted on the grounds of insufficiency of evidence.

In 2022, two cases were registered against the founder of PTI at Khanna police station.

It is pertinent to note that on Tuesday, Islamabad High Court (IHC) reserved its decision on former prime minister Iman Khan's plea for bail in the £190 million NAB reference.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri heard Imran Khan's bail plea in the PTI's £190 million reference.

Special Prosecutor NAB Amjad Parvez stated that out of 59 witnesses in the case, 39 have already recorded their statements. NAB has dropped ten witnesses, and six to eight more witnesses are expected to testify in this case.

He further stated that if the case reaches its final stage, instead of bail, directions are given to the trial court to decide the case promptly. Following arguments, the bench reserved its decision on Imran Khan's bail application.

The reference

In the £190 million NAB reference, known as the 'Al-Qadir Trust case', it is alleged that Imran Khan and his wife acquired billions of rupees worth of land and assets from Bahria Town Limited in return for giving legal cover to £50 billion sent by the UK's National Crime Agency to the Pakistani government during the PTI government's tenure.

This case is related to the illegal acquisition and construction of land for Al-Qadir University, where illegal benefits of £140 million were obtained through the UK's National Crime Agency against Malik Riaz and his family for money laundering. Imran Khan is also accused of concealing facts regarding the contract related to this matter, deceiving the cabinet, and diverting the amount (£140 million) received under the settlement agreement, which was supposed to be deposited into the national treasury, towards the recovery of liabilities amounting to £450 billion in Bahria Town Karachi.