PTI Urges Judiciary to Act Swiftly on Al-Qadir Trust Case, Restore Public Confidence

‘Al-Qadir Trust Case a Clear Act of Political Victimization, Not a Legal Matter', Says Waqas

Denounces Sealing of Welfare School in Toba Tek Singh, Demands Immediate Reopening 

Says Acquittal in Ume Rubab Chandio Case Reveals Deep Flaws in Justice System

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) urged the judiciary to decide the long-delayed £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case strictly on merit and judiciously, so that convictions arising from a ‘politically motivated and unfounded prosecution’ can be set aside and public confidence in the ‘rapidly eroding credibility’ of the judicial system can be restored.

In a statement on Tuesday, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said the party welcomed the scheduling of the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case hearing before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) after what he called prolonged and unjustified delays. He emphasized that the case is not a ‘legal matter’ but a clear act of ‘political victimization’, as no evidence of corruption or personal financial gain has been presented despite lengthy proceedings.

He said it is high time the court decided the matter swiftly on its merits and suspended the sentences of 17 January 2025 so that politically motivated convictions from an unfair trial process can be rectified without further delay.

PTI CIS stated that for nearly a year, the appeals of PTI founder have remained stalled due to bureaucratic obstacles, administrative objections, and systemic delays, which not only constitute a grave violation of citizens’ constitutional and fundamental legal rights but also raise serious concerns about the judiciary’s independence and credibility.

“We urge the bench to ensure timely justice by resisting all attempts to cause further unnecessary delays and to uphold the constitutional mandate of independent judicial proceedings, free from external influence,” he added. “We are confident that once these appeals are heard purely on their merits—free from political considerations—these fabricated convictions will be overturned, paving the way for the immediate release of unlawfully incarcerated Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi,” Waqas stated.

On the occasion of this important hearing, PTI CIS called upon the public, party members, and workers to stand in peaceful solidarity with Imran Khan, and his wife, Bushra Bibi, emphasizing that this is not merely a legal battle but a struggle to protect due process, judicial independence, and the rule of law in Pakistan.

He reiterated that the Al-Qadir Trust case is a clear example of ‘political engineering’ with no basis in law or fact, noting that public statements by incumbent authorities confirmed these funds were intended for education—undermining any claims of quid pro quo or personal gain.

PTI expressed hope that this case will serve as a turning point in restoring public trust in justice, fairness, and constitutional governance.

Meanwhile, PTI strongly condemned what it called the ‘unlawful, arbitrary, and politically motivated action’ of sealing a welfare school in Rajana, Toba Tek Singh, by the Punjab School Education Department merely for holding a gathering where Imran Khan’s sister, Noreen Khan Niazi, addressed the school’s 10th annual prize distribution ceremony on Sunday.

The school, run under the supervision of retired Brigadier Javed Akram, who is serving a six-year sentence in Kot Lakhpat Jail, provides education and training to 700 underprivileged children in his native area. PTI CIS emphasized that no violation of law had occurred, and that the sealing of the school represents clear ‘political victimisation’.

He further noted that the PML-N government has consistently subjected ‘welfare projects to political vendetta, highlighting its desperation and hostility toward initiatives aimed at helping the underprivileged’.

Waqas said that in a country where millions of children are deprived of education, denying free education to 700 innocent children is nothing short of cruelty. PTI CIS demanded that the Punjab government immediately reverse this action, ensure these children are not used as victims of political revenge, and reopen the school without delay because it constituted a blatant violation of basic human rights, the right to education, and moral values. “Targeting a welfare institution on political grounds is reprehensible, unacceptable, and shameful,” he added.

Referring to Ume Rubab Chandio's family murder case, Sheikh Waqas noted that even after seven years and more than 400 hearings, the accused were acquitted due to lack of evidence, raising serious questions about the performance of the investigative system and the delivery of justice. He said this outcome exposes a troubling pattern where the powerful receive relief while the weak continue to suffer.

“Judiciary appears under pressure, the economy is in ruins, and public confidence in the system is fading,” he said, urging citizens to raise their voice for justice, constitutional rights, and the rule of law. PTI CIS emphasized that the nation cannot afford further political engineering at the cost of justice and economic stability, calling for transparency, accountability, an end to political victimisation, and the immediate release of Imran Khan and other political prisoners.