IHC delays Imran, Bushra appeals by 10 days

Summary

• The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday adjourned the appeals of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, against their convictions in the £190 million corruption case for 10 days.
• During the proceedings, Barrister Salman Safdar informed the court that he had been unable to meet Imran for seven months and Bushra for 11 months.
• An accountability court in Islamabad convicted Imran and Bushra on January 17, 2025, sentencing them to 14 and seven years in prison, respectively.

AI Generated Summary

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday adjourned the appeals of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, against their convictions in the £190 million corruption case for 10 days. The court also directed authorities to arrange meetings between Imran and his legal team to facilitate preparations for the next hearing.

A division bench headed by Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar heard the appeals challenging the sentences awarded to the former prime minister and his wife in the Al-Qadir Trust case. Imran is serving a 14-year prison sentence, while Bushra was sentenced to seven years.

During the proceedings, Barrister Salman Safdar informed the court that he had been unable to meet Imran for seven months and Bushra for 11 months. He said the limited access to his clients had affected his ability to prepare arguments in the case.

The lawyer also pointed out that the appeal records, comprising approximately 3,500 pages and statements from 35 witnesses, had not yet been provided. He requested sufficient time to examine the documents before presenting arguments.

Chief Justice Dogar recalled that the court had previously directed the lawyers to begin arguments and had obtained an undertaking that no further adjournment would be requested. However, Advocate Sardar Latif Khan Khosa informed the bench that he had not been granted access to Imran.