Imran gets bail in £190 million case

English , International - بین الاقوامی , / Wednesday, May 15th, 2024

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The Islamabad High Court (IHC) granted on Wednesday bail to PTI founder Imran Khan in the £190 million case. The court asked the PTI founder to submit a surety bond of Rs1 million in order to secure bail. However, the order will not result in the ex-premier’s release from Adiala jail since his sentences in the Iddat and cypher cases are yet to be suspended. A day earlier, a two-member bench comprising IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri reserved the decision on Imran’s bail plea following the completion of arguments presented by both sides. Amjad Parvez, the special prosecutor of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), contended that the funds should have been remitted to the government of Pakistan. “The Supreme Court clearly stated in its verdict that the funds were mistakenly deposited into the Supreme Court’s account. This act of secrecy constitutes a significant deception,” Parvez asserted. Concluding his arguments, Parvez urged the court to expedite the trial proceedings rather than considering bail at this stage.Responding to the prosecution’s claims, Imran Khan’s lawyer, Sardar Latif Khosa, challenged the allegations, particularly those made by former aide Shahzad Akbar. Khosa questioned why Imran Khan was being held accountable for matters beyond his control. Khosa highlighted that a witness of NAB acknowledged the absence of Imran Khan’s signature and affirmed that no funds were directed to the PTI founder’s account or that of his wife, Bushra Bibi. “Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi did not derive any personal benefit from these transactions,” Khosa emphasised. The case revolves around allegations of corruption and abuse of authority linked to a financial settlement during the PTI’s tenure, which reportedly incurred a £190 million loss to the national exchequer.