Islamabad Accountability Court has concluded the trial in the £190 million corruption case involving the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Bushra Bibi.
The high-profile case, completed within a year, revolved around allegations of bribery and misuse of funds earmarked for the state of Pakistan.
The case dates back to December 2019 when £190 million, recovered by the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA), was secretly deposited into Malik Riaz’s fine account instead of the state treasury. During his tenure as Prime Minister, NAB alleged that the PTI founder received 458 kanals of land and substantial donations for the Al-Qadir Trust as bribes in exchange for facilitating this transaction.
NAB filed its reference on December 1, 2023, naming eight accused, including the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi. However, only two of the accused faced trial, while the other six—including Malik Riaz—were declared fugitives and remain at large.
The trial saw a series of delays and legal tactics, with 35 prosecution witnesses presented, including former federal ministers Pervez Khattak and Zubaida Jalal, and former Principal Secretary Azam Khan. The court underwent several changes in presiding judges during the trial, adding to its complexities.
On February 27, 2024, the court formally indicted the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi.
Cross-examination of NAB’s final witness took 38 hearings.
The accused declined to present defense witnesses but requested 16 individuals as court witnesses, a plea rejected by the court.
Bushra Bibi faced arrest warrants for non-appearance but later complied with court orders. Meanwhile, the six fugitives, including Shahzad Akbar, Zulfi Bukhari, and Malik Riaz, have permanent arrest warrants issued against them.
On December 18, 2024, in a six-hour-long session at Adiala Jail, the defense concluded its arguments, expressing confidence in Judge Nasir Javed Rana’s impartiality. The court has now reserved its verdict.
If convicted, the accused face up to 14 years of imprisonment under the provisions of the case.
The decision is eagerly awaited as it could have significant implications for Pakistan’s political and judicial landscape.
