ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday adjourned for 10 days the hearing of appeals filed by PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, against their convictions in the £190 million reference.
The couple is serving prison sentences in the £190m corruption case, also known as the Al-Qadir Trust case. An accountability court had sentenced Imran to 14 years in prison and Bushra to seven years.
The IHC also directed the authorities to facilitate meetings between Imran and his legal team.
At the outset of the proceedings on Tuesday, Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar, heading a division bench, observed that he had allowed the lawyers to meet Imran and Bushra.
He recalled that on June 29, the court had specifically directed the counsel to proceed with arguments and obtained an undertaking that no adjournment would be sought.
Barrister Salman Safdar responded that the undertaking had been given by Advocate Sardar Latif Khan Khosa, who should explain his position before the court.
He said he was present to argue the appeals as well as a civil miscellaneous application seeking permission for Bushra to receive medical treatment.
Justice Dogar, however, observed that the undertaking had been furnished by Khosa and that arguments on the main appeals would commence forthwith and conclude in due course.
Khosa, however, informed the court that he had not been granted access to Imran.
Taking note of the matter, the chief justice asked Islamabad Advocate General Naveed Hayat Malik whether arrangements could be made for Khosa to meet the PTI founder within the next couple of days. The advocate general responded in the affirmative.
Justice Dogar reiterated that he wanted formal arguments in the appeals to begin.
Meanwhile, lawyer and PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja informed the court that he had received instructions from Imran. Justice Dogar observed that the court’s directions also formed part of the judicial record.
Barrister Safdar told the bench that he had been denied access to Imran for the past seven months and to Bushra for the past 11 months. Justice Dogar recalled that Barrister Safdar had earlier expressed his inability to argue the case due to restrictions on meetings with his clients.
The counsel further pointed out that the paper books in the appeals had yet to be received from the IHC. He said the case involved approximately 3,500 pages of documents and testimony from 35 witnesses, which required thorough examination before he could properly present his arguments.
Seeking reasonable time for preparation, Barrister Safdar said he had been allowed to meet Imran and Bushra for only 40 minutes, which was insufficient to discuss the cases in detail.
He also apprised the court of Bushra’s medical condition, saying that she appeared deeply concerned when he met her after a gap of 11 months and that her eyes appeared to be badly infected.
Regarding Imran’s health, he said that although his eyesight had improved somewhat, his blood pressure remained unstable, putting him at risk of a brain haemorrhage.
He added that the PTI founder was more concerned about his wife’s health than his own.
Barrister Safdar said Bushra had been wearing sunglasses during their meeting and had removed them only at his insistence. He maintained that her eye condition appeared serious and required immediate attention from a specialist.
He argued that women could be granted bail on statutory grounds and that Bushra urgently needed medical treatment. He requested the court to consider granting her bail for a fortnight to enable her to receive appropriate medical care.
Advocate General Malik, however, maintained that Bushra had been provided with proper medical treatment. He argued that individuals convicted and sentenced by courts could not claim the same absolute rights as law-abiding citizens.
Justice Dogar observed that Khosa would argue the main appeals and directed the advocate general to facilitate his meeting with Imran.
Barrister Safdar also requested an opportunity to meet both Imran and Bushra, explaining that his last meeting with them had taken place after a prolonged gap.
Raja supported the request and asked the court to allow Barrister Safdar to accompany Khosa during the proposed meeting with Imran.
Justice Dogar, however, observed that the matter relating to Bushra’s medical treatment was pending before the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) and that Barrister Safdar could pursue the issue of access to his clients before the appropriate forum.
Barrister Safdar reiterated his request that Bushra be permitted to receive medical treatment from a specialist of her own choice.
At the conclusion of the proceedings, the court directed the advocate general to arrange a meeting of at least an hour between Khosa and the PTI founder. It also directed the authorities to ensure that the paper books were prepared and made available before the next hearing.
Barrister Safdar informed the bench that he had also been instructed to argue both appeals.
The court further allowed Barrister Safdar to meet Imran and Bushra before adjourning the proceedings for 10 days.
The £190m pound case pertains to the Al-Qadir Trust settlement, where NAB alleged that Imran and Bushra obtained billions of rupees and land worth hundreds of kanals from a real estate firm for legalising Rs50 billion that was identified and returned to the country by the United Kingdom during the PTI government.
The amount was deposited in the Supreme Court account as part of a settlement with the property tycoon.
An accountability court in Islamabad had sentenced Imran and Bushra to 14 and seven years in prison, respectively, on Jan 17, 2025, in the case. Subsequently, both had challenged their convictions before the IHC.
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