PTI slams journalist for speculating punishment for Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi in £190 million case

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) criticised journalist Meher Bokhari for speculating about the punishment for former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in the £190 million case. The verdict is set to be announced today (Friday) after being delayed three times.

Meher Bokhari, in a post on X, claimed through “confident sources” that Imran Khan would be sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment, while Bushra Bibi would receive a 7-year sentence in the Al-Qadir Trust case.

In response, PTI’s official X account condemned the journalist's post, accusing her of reflecting the flaws in Pakistan’s judicial system. PTI alleged that "establishment mouthpieces" were announcing verdicts before the judges themselves.

“This undeclared martial law in Pakistan is what Imran Khan is fighting against, striving for a truly independent Pakistan where the rule of law prevails, and the judiciary is free from interference by the powerful elite and intelligence agencies,” the party stated.

Meher Bokhari, however, responded to PTI’s criticism, asserting that the party expects journalists to act as its spokespersons and promote its narrative.

She added that as soon as journalists share views opposing PTI’s stance, they are labeled as “establishment mouthpieces.”

The journalist further accused PTI of double standards, pointing out that when journalists speculated on the Panama Papers case against former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, PTI welcomed such reports.

The National Accountability Bureau court on Monday deferred the announcement of the reserved verdict in the £190 million case involving former Prime Minister Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, and six others.

The verdict was initially scheduled to be announced on December 23 but was postponed to January 6 due to winter vacations. However, on January 6, the decision could not be pronounced as Judge Nasir Javed Rana was on leave.

The conclusion of the case was expected to be pronounced on January 13, but it could not be materialised as Judge Nasir Javed Rana left the Adiala Jail and the hearing adjourned until January 17.

Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were indicted in the £190 million reference on February 27 last year.

In December 2023, NAB filed a corruption reference against Imran Khan and seven others, including his wife, in connection with Al-Qadir University.

NAB alleged that Imran and Bushra Bibi obtained billions of rupees and land worth hundreds of kanals from Bahria Town Ltd in exchange for legalising a project worth Rs50 billion, which was identified and returned to Pakistan by the UK during the PTI government.