IHC orders jail meeting for Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi

The Islamabad High Court has directed that a meeting be arranged between former prime minister Imran Khan,

The Islamabad High Court has directed that a meeting be arranged between former prime minister Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, and their legal counsel within seven days. The directive aims to facilitate the filing and continuation of appeals against their convictions in the £190 million reference case.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif heard the case on Thursday. During the hearing, the court was informed that Imran Khan’s lawyer, Barrister Salman Safdar, had been repeatedly denied access to his client at Adiala Jail.

The counsel stated that due to lack of access, he was unable to obtain instructions from Imran Khan or secure a signed vakalatnama required for legal proceedings. He further informed the court that meetings with Bushra Bibi had also not been allowed since December last year, which had further complicated the legal process.

Barrister Safdar argued that prison authorities were restricting access, making it impossible to properly pursue the appeals. He also pointed out that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had filed an application claiming that petitions for suspension of sentence had become ineffective after the main appeals were fixed for hearing.

He maintained that without instructions from his clients, he could not effectively argue the case before the court. Referring to a recent Supreme Court judgment, the counsel said similar relief had been granted in comparable cases and both appellants deserved the same legal treatment.

The Chief Justice questioned the absence of the Advocate General Islamabad, observing that it was his responsibility to ensure that legal counsel is provided access to their clients when required for court proceedings. The bench also recalled that the court had earlier intervened to facilitate a meeting between Imran Khan and his lawyers.

Barrister Safdar clarified that he did not possess a signed vakalatnama and was only engaged for suspension of sentence matters. He alleged that the repeated denial of access appeared to be an attempt to delay proceedings.

Expressing concern, the Chief Justice remarked that restricting access to legal counsel was unfortunate and could hinder the administration of justice.

After hearing all arguments, the court directed the Advocate General Islamabad to ensure that meetings between Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi, and their lawyers are arranged within seven days. The court stated that this would allow completion of legal formalities, including execution of the vakalatnama and obtaining proper instructions.

The hearing was subsequently adjourned until after the meetings and completion of necessary documentation.

Imran Khan has been in custody since August 5, 2023, and is currently serving a 14-year sentence in the £190 million case, also known as the Al-Qadir Trust reference. Bushra Bibi was sentenced to seven years in prison in January 2025. Both have filed appeals challenging their convictions before the Islamabad High Court.