ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court has deferred the hearing on petitions seeking to suspend Imran Khan’s and Bushra Bibi’s sentences in the £190 million case until Monday.
Chief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif presided over the session, with Barrister Salman Safdar representing the PTI leader and Bushra Bibi. NAB’s Special Prosecutor Javed Ashraf and Rafi Maqsood appeared for the prosecution.
During proceedings, the NAB prosecutor argued that two applications questioned the validity of the suspension petitions, claiming such requests cannot proceed without notices on the main appeals. He added that recent amendments to NAB laws prohibit suspending sentences without notice and urged the court to start hearing the appeals.
Safdar countered, stating that many points raised by the prosecution are invalid. He pointed out that Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were sentenced in January 2025, and over a year has passed without resolution, despite delays from the prosecution. He emphasized that Bushra Bibi was on bail during the trial and has medical reasons for her case. Safdar clarified they are not seeking to argue the appeals now, only requesting suspension and bail.
The prosecutor maintained that the suspension pleas were not scheduled for today’s hearing, but Chief Justice Dogar asked if arguments could be made with two days allocated each week. Safdar responded that he has been unable to meet his clients for five months and lacks instructions for the appeal. The court advised him to obtain instructions before the next hearing.
The defence also pointed out that a similar case, the cipher case, took three months to argue, and this case might require more time. They requested that the suspension pleas be prioritized.
The court suggested scheduling the appeals for the following week, but Safdar requested additional time to prepare. The hearing was then adjourned until Monday.
