ISLAMABAD: An accountability court in Islamabad has granted interim bail to former Prime Minister Imran Khan in the Al-Qadir Trust case until June 19 against surety bonds worth Rs500,000. The decision came after the Islamabad High Court directed Khan to approach the relevant accountability court.
Presided over by Accountability Judge Muhammad Bashir, the court accepted Khan’s bail petition, halting the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from arresting him until the next hearing. Khan appeared in court in compliance with the IHC’s directive.
During the hearing, Khan’s lawyer, Khawaja Harris, informed the court that the bail petition had already been prepared and requested bail until June 17, when Khan is scheduled to appear before the Anti-Terrorism Court. The NAB prosecutor requested an alternative date due to Saturday closures, but the court granted interim bail until June 19.
IHC Extends Imran Khan’s Bail
Earlier in the day, the IHC extended Khan’s interim bail in the NCA £190m scandal (Al-Qadir Trust corruption case). Khan appeared before a two-member bench, and his lawyer requested an extension until June 8, citing other pending cases. However, the IHC rejected the request and extended the interim bail until Monday (June 5), instructing Khan to appear before the relevant court.
In the NCA £190m scandal, the NAB had initiated an investigation against Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi (Khan’s wife), and others, alleging the acquisition of a significant amount of land in the name of Al Qadir University Trust, resulting in a loss of 190 million pounds to the national exchequer. The charges stated that the accused adjusted Rs50 billion received from Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) for the government’s benefit.
It was previously reported that the federal government had placed Imran Khan’s name on the Exit Control List (ECL) in connection with the NCA £190m scandal. The NAB has also recommended adding Bushra Bibi’s name to the ECL in the same case.
