IHC Adjourns £190m Corruption Case Appeals for Ten Days
Court orders legal access for Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi amid medical concerns.
1Court Delays Appeal Hearings
The Islamabad High Court has officially adjourned the appeals of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, for ten days. The couple is currently serving prison sentences related to the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust corruption case, where they were previously convicted by an accountability court in January 2025.
2Legal Access Mandated
Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar directed authorities to facilitate meetings between the defendants and their legal representatives. The court specifically ordered that Advocate Sardar Latif Khan Khosa be granted access to Imran Khan within the next few days to ensure that formal arguments for the appeals can finally commence.
3Defense Preparation Challenges
Barrister Salman Safdar highlighted significant hurdles in preparing the defense, noting that the case involves approximately 3,500 pages of documentation and testimony from 35 witnesses. He emphasized that previous restrictions on client meetings, lasting up to eleven months for Bushra Bibi, have severely hindered the legal team's ability to build their case.
4Medical Concerns Raised
The defense team expressed urgent concern regarding Bushra Bibi's health, specifically citing a severe eye infection that requires specialist attention. Barrister Safdar requested temporary bail for medical treatment, while Imran Khan's health remains a point of contention, with reports of unstable blood pressure and potential risks of a brain haemorrhage during his incarceration.
5State Response to Claims
Islamabad Advocate General Naveed Hayat Malik contested the defense's claims, asserting that Bushra Bibi has already received appropriate medical care while in custody. He argued that convicted individuals do not possess the same absolute rights as law-abiding citizens, maintaining that the state has fulfilled its obligations regarding the health of the prisoners.
6Case Background and Allegations
The Al-Qadir Trust case centers on allegations that the couple received land and billions of rupees from a real estate firm. This occurred during the PTI government after the United Kingdom returned £190 million to Pakistan, which was subsequently deposited into a Supreme Court account as part of a settlement agreement.
7Procedural Requirements Set
The court ordered that all necessary paper books be prepared and provided to the defense before the next scheduled hearing. Justice Dogar insisted that the legal team must proceed with arguments without further adjournments, emphasizing that the judicial record must reflect the court's directions for facilitating essential communication between counsel and clients.
8Future Judicial Outlook
The ten-day adjournment provides a window for the legal team to review case documents and consult with their clients. While the court handles the appeal, related matters concerning medical treatment remain pending before the Federal Constitutional Court, marking a complex intersection of legal, medical, and political challenges for the high-profile defendants.
Original article: Dawn — IHC Adjourns £190m Corruption Case Appeals for Ten Days