Updates about the Case of Bursha Bibi Regarding Al-Qadir Trust
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has granted protective bail
to former first lady Bushra Bibi until May 23 in the ongoing Al-Qadir Trust
case. This case is the same one in which Imran Khan, the current Prime
Minister, was arrested last week. However, Imran Khan's arrest was later deemed
"unlawful" by the apex court, and he was granted bail until May 17 by
the Islamabad High Court.
During the hearing, Imran Khan accompanied his wife,
Bushra Bibi, and security guards shielded the couple with a protective white
sheet as they arrived at the court. The case was heard by a two-member bench
consisting of Justice Shahbaz Ali Rizvi and Justice Shakil Ahmad.
The court expressed disappointment at Bushra Bibi's
delayed appearance at the onset of the hearing. Justice Rizvi advised the
petitioner's counsel, Advocate Khawaja Harris, to ensure punctuality and
maintain the sanctity of the court. The judge sternly remarked that it was
inappropriate to make the court wait and that such behavior would not be
tolerated. The court allowed until 2:15 pm for the petitioner to appear,
warning that the plea would be dismissed by 2:16 pm if the petitioner failed to
show up.
After a short adjournment, the hearing resumed, and
Justice Rizvi reiterated the importance of the petitioner's presence before the
proceedings commenced, deeming it embarrassing for both the lawyer and the
court. Bushra Bibi's counsel assured the court of punctuality in future
hearings.
The case revolves around the National Accountability
Bureau's (NAB) allegations that Imran Khan and his wife obtained billions of
rupees and land from Malik Riaz, the founder of Bahria Town, in exchange for
allowing Riaz to adjust a settlement payment made to a British crime agency.
The settlement amount, returned to Pakistan by the UK, was a result of a fine
imposed on Riaz by the Supreme Court. The case gained attention after an
alleged audio leak implicated Farah Khan, a friend of Bushra Bibi, in seeking
favors from the government of Imran Khan.
The origins of the case trace back to the United Kingdom,
where the National Crime Agency (NCA) reached a settlement worth £190 million
with Malik Riaz's family. The settlement included a property in London and
frozen accounts. The NCA initiated the investigation into Riaz's assets shortly
after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party came to power. Riaz had
previously settled dues with the Supreme Court of Pakistan over illegally
acquired land by his real estate firm, Bahria Town Ltd.
Allegations suggest that Riaz offered money and land to
Imran Khan and his wife as a quid pro quo for the settlement, intending it to
be used for the Al-Qadir University Trust.
The proceedings in the Al-Qadir Trust case continue, and
Bushra Bibi's protective bail ensures her temporary safeguard from arrest until
May 23.
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