IHC delays Imran, Bushra appeals by 10 days

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday adjourned the appeals of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, against their convictions in the £190 million corruption case for 10 days. The court also directed authorities to arrange meetings between Imran and his legal team to facilitate preparations for the next hearing.

A division bench headed by Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar heard the appeals challenging the sentences awarded to the former prime minister and his wife in the Al-Qadir Trust case. Imran is serving a 14-year prison sentence, while Bushra was sentenced to seven years.

During the proceedings, Barrister Salman Safdar informed the court that he had been unable to meet Imran for seven months and Bushra for 11 months. He said the limited access to his clients had affected his ability to prepare arguments in the case.

The lawyer also pointed out that the appeal records, comprising approximately 3,500 pages and statements from 35 witnesses, had not yet been provided. He requested sufficient time to examine the documents before presenting arguments.

Chief Justice Dogar recalled that the court had previously directed the lawyers to begin arguments and had obtained an undertaking that no further adjournment would be requested. However, Advocate Sardar Latif Khan Khosa informed the bench that he had not been granted access to Imran.

Responding to the issue, Islamabad Advocate General Naveed Hayat Malik assured the court that arrangements could be made for Khosa to meet the PTI founder within the next couple of days.

The bench subsequently directed the authorities to arrange a meeting lasting at least one hour between Khosa and Imran. It also permitted Barrister Safdar to meet both Imran and Bushra before the next hearing.

During the hearing, Safdar raised serious concerns about Bushra’s health, claiming that she appeared to be suffering from a severe eye infection when he met her after an extended period. He said she had been wearing sunglasses and removed them only after he insisted.

The lawyer requested permission for Bushra to receive treatment from a specialist of her choice. He also sought her release on bail for two weeks on medical grounds, arguing that her condition required immediate attention.

Regarding Imran’s health, Safdar said his eyesight had improved to some extent, but his blood pressure remained unstable. He warned that the condition could expose the former premier to the risk of a brain haemorrhage.

The Islamabad advocate general, however, maintained that Bushra had been provided with appropriate medical facilities. He opposed the arguments concerning her treatment and said convicted individuals could not claim the same absolute rights as law-abiding citizens.

Justice Dogar observed that the issue of Bushra’s medical treatment was already pending before the Federal Constitutional Court. He advised Safdar to pursue the matter before the relevant forum.

The court also instructed the authorities to complete the preparation of the appeal records and make them available before the next hearing. The proceedings were subsequently adjourned for 10 days.

Speaking outside the court, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan expressed disappointment over what he described as the unequal implementation of judicial orders. He said the party had approached every available legal forum in its efforts to secure justice.

Gohar argued that court orders issued in the party’s favour appeared to carry less weight than decisions benefiting others. He urged the judiciary to ensure equal treatment for all citizens and called for effective implementation of its directives.

He also appealed to the government to immediately comply with the court’s instructions and allow lawyers to meet Imran, describing access to legal counsel as his fundamental and legal right.

The £190 million reference centres on a settlement involving the Al-Qadir Trust and a property tycoon. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) alleged that Imran and Bushra received billions of rupees and hundreds of kanals of land from a real estate business in exchange for facilitating the adjustment of Rs50 billion returned to Pakistan by the United Kingdom during the PTI government’s tenure.

The recovered amount was deposited into the Supreme Court’s account as part of a settlement with the property tycoon.

An accountability court in Islamabad convicted Imran and Bushra on January 17, 2025, sentencing them to 14 and seven years in prison, respectively. Both subsequently challenged their convictions before the Islamabad High Court.