The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of suspension of sentence applications filed by former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust corruption case. The defence counsel requested additional time to consult with their clients before proceeding.
A division bench led by IHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar, alongside Justice Muhammad Asif, presided over the proceedings. The hearing was attended by the couple’s sisters Aleema Khanum, Uzma Khan, and Noreen Niazi, while the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was represented by Special Prosecutor Javed Ashraf and prosecutor Rafay Maqsood.
During the proceedings, the NAB highlighted that two separate applications for suspension of sentence had already been filed and argued that such pleas could not be heard without issuing notice in the main appeals, especially after recent amendments to the NAB law. The bench suggested that arguments on the appeals could be allocated two hearing days per week.
Defence counsel Salman Safdar argued that despite their convictions on January 17, 2025, the prosecution had repeatedly sought adjournments. He stated that he had not been able to meet Imran Khan or Bushra Bibi for the past five months to obtain instructions, making it difficult to advance arguments at this stage.
The bench noted that if the appeals are scheduled for hearing, the suspension of sentence applications might not be taken up separately. Safdar insisted on additional time to consult with his clients before presenting arguments.
The NAB prosecutor countered that while bail matters are brief, appeals require detailed arguments and questioned the defence’s hesitation to proceed if the case was straightforward.
After hearing both sides, the IHC allowed the defence time to consult their clients and adjourned the hearing until April 6 (Monday). Imran Khan is currently serving a 14-year sentence in the £190m case at Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, and also faces pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act related to May 9, 2023 riots.
