Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar clarified on Thursday that the bail granted to the PTI founder chairman should not be misinterpreted as an acquittal, stressing that legal proceedings against him are still underway.

In a video message, Tarar underlined that the entire nation had witnessed the PTI founder’s role in orchestrating the May 9 unrest, which he said was designed to destabilize the system, weaken the economy, and harm the state.

He highlighted that the PTI founder has already been convicted in the £190 million mega corruption reference-described as one of the largest scandals in Pakistan’s history-where he was handed a 14-year sentence after what the minister termed a transparent trial supported by strong evidence. Tarar noted that the accused failed to explain in court the transfer of billions of rupees to property tycoon Malik Riaz or provide legal justification for the transactions.

The minister criticized PTI’s defense strategy, saying that instead of presenting valid evidence, the party resorted to invoking the “State of Medina” narrative and using religious symbolism to divert attention from accountability.

He said billions of rupees, which rightfully belonged to the government, were instead paid as fines due to the actions of the PTI founder. He further questioned the purpose of establishing the controversial Al-Qadir University Trust if, as PTI claims, no wrongdoing was involved.

Tarar also revealed that the PTI-led government approved the £190 million deal in a sealed envelope during its tenure. Ministers who had raised objections at the time, he added, were ignored, and the closed-door approval paved the way for the misappropriation.

The information minister expressed hope that other pending cases, including those linked to the May 9 riots-when military installations were attacked and martyrs’ monuments desecrated-as well as the Toshakhana II reference, would also be decided soon.