IHC Orders Early Hearing in Imran, Bushra Case

Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has directed that the petitions filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, seeking suspension of their sentences in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case, be scheduled for an early hearing.

The written order, issued by Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Azam Khan, stated that the matter should be fixed “as soon as possible” in accordance with the court’s policy.

According to the ruling, the petitioners argued that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was deliberately delaying proceedings by repeatedly seeking adjournments. The court accepted their request to ensure that the hearing takes place without further postponement.

On July 8, Imran Khan’s counsel, Barrister Salman Safdar, filed a petition urging the IHC to expedite hearings on their applications. The PTI founder and his wife were convicted by an Accountability Court in Rawalpindi on January 17, 2025. Imran Khan received a 14-year jail term, while Bushra Bibi was sentenced to seven years.

The verdict, announced by Judge Nasir Javed Rana at Adiala Jail, also imposed fines of Rs 1 million on Khan and Rs 500,000 on Bushra Bibi. In case of non-payment, Khan would serve an additional six months in prison and Bushra Bibi three months.

Bushra Bibi was taken into custody immediately after the sentencing. The court also ordered that Al-Qadir University be placed under government control.

The couple filed appeals on January 27, with the first hearing on their sentence suspension pleas held on May 15. Their legal team continues to argue that justice is being hindered due to unnecessary delays caused by NAB.