ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, have approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to request the prioritised scheduling of their appeals, Dawn reported. The couple is seeking to overturn their conviction in the Toshakhana I case and the suspension of their sentences in the 190 million-pound corruption case.
The move, made on Friday, comes as the petitioners allege “inordinate delays” and “dilatory tactics” on the part of the prosecution. This follows an IHC adjournment on 31 March regarding the suspension of sentences in the Al-Qadir Trust case, which occurred after the defence requested more time to consult with their clients.
In their legal filings under Section 561-A of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), the couple also urged the court to instruct prison authorities to allow for unhindered sessions with their legal advisors. According to Dawn, the appeals specifically contrast a January 2024 ruling by Accountability Court No. 1, which resulted in a 14-year prison sentence at Adiala Jail. Although the IHC suspended these specific sentences in April 2024, the new petitions claim the original trial court judgment lacked the “proper application of judicial mind” and was marred by a “serious misreading and non-reading of material evidence.”
The documentation further highlighted the former premier’s medical concerns, specifically “right central retinal vein occlusion,” noting that the required medical care is not accessible within Adiala Jail. Dawn noted that the health of the 71-year-old leader has been a subject of significant concern since his eye condition was first disclosed earlier this year.
Regarding Bushra Bibi, the legal team described her as a “parda-nasheen” lady who has never held public office, arguing her involvement in the case stems purely from her marriage. She has separately requested a merit-based decision on her sentence suspension in the Al-Qadir Trust case, which has reportedly been pending for over ten months.
The petition further alleged that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has utilised “procedural manoeuvring” to delay the legal process. Dawn reported that the plea emphasises Bushra Bibi has already completed more than a year of her seven-year term and should be granted statutory leniency as a female defendant.
Both petitioners expressed alarm over their inability to access legal counsel within the prison. Imran Khan’s petition argues that blocking these visitations violates constitutional protections, including the “right to fair trial” and the principle that the “dignity of man and the privacy of the home shall be inviolable.”
Lead counsel Barrister Salman Safdar stated in a separate application that he has been barred from seeing his clients for roughly three months. This restriction has made it impossible to receive the “fresh instructions” required to move forward with the primary appeals.
The legal team, which includes Salman Akram Raja and Barrister Ali Zafar, stressed to the IHC that “justice should not only be done but also be seen to be done.” As per Dawn, the lawyers urged the court to ensure a swift resolution of these cases to avoid “irreparable loss.”
