The recent indictment pertains to Al-Qadir Trust, an NGO established by Khan and his third wife Bushra Bibi in 2018 during Khan's tenure as Prime Minister.
Prosecutors allege that the trust served as a front for Khan to receive valuable land as a bribe from a prominent real estate developer, Malik Riaz Hussain, who is among Pakistan's wealthiest and most powerful businessmen.
Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were formally accused on Tuesday of accepting land as a bribe during Khan's premiership. Khan, 71, has been in jail since August on various charges and has consistently denied all allegations. Prior convictions on corruption charges have led to his disqualification from participating in politics for a decade.
Despite these legal challenges, Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party secured the largest share of parliamentary seats in the national elections held on February 8. However, opposition parties, led by the Sharif and Bhutto families, formed a coalition to establish a minority government.
The trial took place within the confines of the prison, where both Khan and Bushra Bibi pleaded not guilty. The PTI strongly criticized the indictment, claiming that trials conducted within prison walls were aimed at ensuring a miscarriage of justice.
Al-Qadir Trust, the focus of the latest legal action, was established by Khan and his wife as a welfare organization during his tenure as Prime Minister. Prosecutors allege that the trust was used as a front to facilitate Khan's receipt of valuable land as a bribe from Malik Riaz Hussain, a prominent real estate developer.
The PTI's condemnation of the indictment underscores the party's belief that the legal proceedings are unfair and lack transparency. They argue that conducting trials within prison settings compromises the integrity of the judicial process and undermines the principles of justice.
Overall, the latest indictment adds to the legal challenges facing Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi. The accusations of bribery and corruption further complicate their political future and raise questions about the integrity of Pakistan's legal system.
