Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has once again lashed out at what he calls a “deliberate, grinding delay” in the cases against party founder Imran Khan, warning that justice deferred is fast becoming justice denied. Speaking to reporters outside Adiala Jail on Monday, the lawyer-politician accused trial courts of dragging their feet and “playing with dates” while the former prime minister remains behind bars.
Missed hearings, moving goalposts
Gohar pointed to a string of postponed hearings in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust reference and other graft cases. “We were told the matter would be fixed last week; then we were told to wait until 5 June. Now another adjournment looms,” he said, adding that each delay fuels speculation that behind-the-scenes pressure is dictating the pace of proceedings.
Court staff, contacted later for comment, insisted the adjournments were “routine scheduling issues,” but Gohar was having none of it. “Routine for whom?” he asked. “The Constitution promises a speedy trial. Imran Khan has spent almost a year in custody on cases every independent lawyer calls flimsy.”
No ‘deal’ on the table
Rumours have swirled for months that PTI might cut a bargain to secure Khan’s release. Gohar dismissed the idea outright. “Imran Khan authorised no talks, no deals. He’d rather sit in jail than barter away principle,” he told reporters, repeating an earlier claim that any ‘negotiations’ were media inventions.
Party insiders say the leadership is split on tactics. Some favour maximum legal pressure; others whisper about street protests if the stalemate drags on. For now, Khan’s legal team appears determined to exhaust every judicial remedy before considering agitation.
Legal logjam and election clock
The delays come as Pakistan edges toward local-body polls and, eventually, general elections. PTI strategists believe keeping Khan entangled in court benefits rivals by sapping party energy and confusing supporters. “Every adjournment is another week the party base can’t see its leader,” remarked a senior PTI figure, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Independent analysts agree the calendar matters. “If these cases are still unresolved when election season heats up, PTI faces an organisational nightmare,” said constitutional scholar Usama Khawar. “Mobilising without Khan on the stump is tougher than the party admits.”
A watchful judiciary—or political calculus?
Legal experts differ on whether the bench or the bar is to blame. Some say an overworked judiciary naturally moves slowly; others see politics in every postponement. What is clear: each delay erodes public confidence in due process.
Gohar signalled he might soon file a petition to consolidate multiple cases or seek daily hearings. “The law allows speedy trials in extraordinary situations. What could be more extraordinary than a former prime minister languishing in jail while dates shift like sand?”
For now, Imran Khan remains in Adiala, his fate tied to a court calendar nobody seems able—or willing—to fix. As Gohar put it, “Justice can take its time, but the nation shouldn’t have to wait forever.”
