IHC Grants Early Hearing on Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi’s Sentence Suspension Plea
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday accepted a petition for an early hearing on the suspension of sentences awarded to former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in the £190 million corruption case. The court also directed federal agencies to submit fresh reports on all pending cases registered against the PTI founder.
Court Orders Early Hearing
A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Sardar Mohammad Sarfaraz Dogar and Justice Mohammad Azam Khan, approved the plea for expediting the suspension applications.
Barrister Salman Safdar, counsel for Imran Khan, argued that the petitions had been repeatedly delayed due to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). He told the court that NAB either failed to appoint a prosecutor or sought more time on multiple occasions.
The lawyer stressed that although neither Imran Khan nor Bushra Bibi had sought medical relief, Bushra Bibi was currently unwell. He further noted that the couple had already been acquitted or granted bail in other cases and urged the court to decide the suspension pleas without delay to ensure justice.
Reports on All Cases Against Imran Khan
During the hearing, Chief Justice Dogar assured that the case would be scheduled soon and ordered that reports be called. The bench instructed NAB and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to submit fresh updates on all registered cases against the former prime minister.
In a related proceeding, Justice Mohammad Azam Khan heard Imran Khan’s petition seeking a complete list of cases against him. Barrister Salman informed the court that 127 cases had been filed against his client over the last two years, calling the process politically motivated and unconstitutional.
He requested the formation of a larger bench, citing precedents in politically sensitive matters. However, NAB’s Special Prosecutor Rafay Maqsood opposed the request, stating that the bureau maintained complete records and could provide them directly to the court.
Justice Azam Khan said a decision on forming a larger bench would be considered after receiving the reports. The matter was then adjourned indefinitely.
