ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced on Friday challenging the punishment handed down to party founder, Imran Khan, and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in the Al-Qadir Trust case. “We will challenge this verdict in the superior courts,” vowed Omar Ayub, the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly and a senior PTI leader, during a press conference in Islamabad. In a press conference alongside Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Information Minister Ataullah Tarar asserted that the case followed the law and that a religion card had been used in the proceedings. The information minister said that it was an “open-and-shut case” and the verdict was based on merit. Minister Ata pointed out that Khan, the former prime minister, had failed to present concrete evidence in court, leading to his conviction. He stressed that despite the defence counsel’s political approach to the case, the court’s decision was firmly grounded in the facts presented. “The defence lawyer was unable to prove innocence, and the case demonstrated clear corruption and bribery,” Ata said, adding that the sentence had been delivered following legal requirements and on merit. For his part, Law Minister Azam confirmed that Imran Khan has the right to appeal the conviction. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar, speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail, criticised the verdict against the party’s founder, calling it “another addition to the chapter of controversial decisions.” Barrister Gohar emphasised that the PTI founder had not taken any money, reiterating that both Khan and Bushra remain undeterred by the current situation. He expressed confidence in the legal process, announcing that an appeal against the case verdict would be filed in the high court within a few days. “The PTI founder will be released soon,” Gohar declared, highlighting that Khan has spent 27 years “striving for justice” in Pakistan. “It is unfortunate that someone who made such great sacrifices for justice is now being denied the same.” Gohar also shared that the PTI founder has urged for negotiations to continue, saying that these talks will proceed for seven days. He further noted that Khan’s morale remains high, and the imposed sentence will be overturned soon. Calling it a ‘Black Day’, Opposition Leader in the Senate Shibli Faraz said that superior courts would dismiss the “baseless” case against the PTI founder. “In this country, thieves roam freely, while the innocent and honest individuals who walk the path of righteousness are being targeted,” said Faraz. He emphasised that Al-Qadir University, established to teach and promote the life of the Prophet (PBUH) and Islamic education, had caused no loss to the government, nor had Khan or Bushra gained any personal benefit from it. Faraz further highlighted Khan’s legacy, citing the establishment of Namal University and Pakistan’s largest network of cancer hospitals. “A person who builds Namal University, someone who establishes hospitals for cancer treatment, the largest of their kind across multiple cities in Pakistan, is being punished for setting up Al-Qadir University,” he said. The opposition leader lamented the state of governance and accountability in Pakistan. “This is a nation where the rule of law and the supremacy of the constitution do not exist.Those who have looted this country are now sitting as respected individuals, while honest citizens struggle with inflation or languish in jails,” the senator said.