LAHORE: Federal and provincial ministers belonging to the PML-N justified the punishment awarded to ex-premier Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi, with Information Minister Attaullah Tarar saying the PTI was trying to use `religion card` to defend itself after the `landmark verdict` in £190 million case.

Mr Tarar, Punjab senior minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, and Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari addressed separate pressconferences on Saturday, boasting that the PTI founder had finally met his fate.

The federal minister questioned the relevance of religious teachings at Al Qadir University to the case and asked what specific religious education was being imparted at the varsity. On Friday, a court sentenced Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi to 14 and seven years of imprisonment in the case.

`This case involves bribery, embezzlement, and corruption. The funds in the case were used for personal gains, including the purchase of properties and luxurious items,` he claimed and added it was an `open-and-shut` case.

Mr Tarar said the decision was based on `solid evidence`.

The prosecution had proved its case while the defence failed to do so, he added. Mr Tarar said Imran Khan, along with Bushra Bibi and property tycoon Malik Riaz were involved in this scam.

Similarly, former adviser to the Imran Khan government Shehzad Akbar was also a facilitator in this case. `Why weren`t the other Khan`s cabinet members held accountable?` the minister asked before asserting that Mr Khan and his wife were the beneficiaries.

He remarked that property tycoon Malik Riaz, an absconder in the case, could not have carried out this plan alone.

He said Imran Khan lacked strong legal grounds for appeal in the higher court. He said the Al Qadir Trust had been placed under government control, clarifying that no cabinet member hadbenefitted from it. Calling it a landmark verdict in the country`s history, Mr Tarar claimed that the recovered public funds would be directed toward initiatives for the welfare of the people.

In a comment on talks with the PTI, the minister said, `Talks between the government and the PTI are not being held to reach a deal but aimed at achieving political stability in the country.

It may be noted that the PTI and the government have held three rounds of talks since December last year, and in the previous meeting, the PTI presented its demands in writing, giving the government seven days to respond.

Provincial minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said Imran Khan, who was accusing others of corruption, had met his fate.

`Imran Khan has fallen into the pit he dug for others. Mr Khan tried to use NAB against his opponents. Nawaz Sharif`s sons had no illegal assets,` she claimed.

She also accused the PTI founder of stealing from the national treasury during his tenure, making him the `first` premier to be convicted in a corruption case.

She alleged that Imran Khan misused party funds, government resources, the Toshakhana, and Covid relief funds. She said Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz would turn Al Qadir Trust University into a `genuine` educational institution.

She said the PML-N did not believe in revenge, otherwise, Imran Khan`s jail luxuries `like air conditioning and heaters` would have been taken away.

Azma Bokhari said the PTI had been in disarray after Khan and his wife were convicted in the £190 million case. `The £190 million case is Pakistan`s largest theft, and Farah Gogi and Shehzad Akbar brought the deal to completion.

Imran Khan, along with Bushra Bibi, committed a robbery to the tune of billions of rupees, and after the decision, they continued to laugh. It is unfortunate that the PTI is giving a religious colour to its theft.

Ms Bokhari said the British agency National Crime Agency contacted the Pakistani government regarding the return of the money, but instead of transferring the money to the government account, it was transferred to the Supreme Court`s account. `The NCA cleared Nawaz Sharif`s sons (Hasan and Hussain) after investigating their accounts,` she claimed.