RAWALPINDI: Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan and founder of PTI, along with his wife Bushra Bibi, has filed a petition with the Supreme Court to challenge the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) decision regarding their sentencing in a £190 million corruption case. They are seeking an immediate suspension of their sentences and their release from detention.
Last month, the IHC dismissed the applications filed by Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi, which requested the suspension of their sentences, stating that their main appeals were already scheduled for hearings. The petition filed in the Supreme Court argues that this decision overlooked critical aspects of the case and was unjust.
The petition asserts that the IHC’s refusal to consider the possibility of suspending the sentences without a preliminary review of the evidence was legally flawed. It emphasizes that during the trial, bail was granted to both Imran and Bushra Bibi, and the accusations against them were declared baseless. Furthermore, it claims that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) repeatedly delayed proceedings through adjournments, prolonging the case and delaying justice unfairly.
The petition also raises concerns about the health of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi during their detention. It mentions that Imran developed an eye condition while in custody and was transferred outside jail for treatment. The petition argues that denying them release despite serious health issues amounts to an injustice.
Additionally, it highlights the mental suffering endured by Imran Khan, who faced solitary confinement, and criticizes the manner of his arrest as unlawful and irresponsible. The petition notes that a higher court had previously ordered his release on grounds of illegal detention.
On the matter of jurisdiction, the petition claims the proceedings were politically motivated and conducted under the guise of accountability. While recent amendments to NAB laws have granted the constitutional court authority over final appeals, the petition states that there is no explicit mention of approaching the constitutional court in the current appeal, making it appropriate for the Supreme Court to review the case.
The petition requests that the Supreme Court declare the IHC’s order invalid, suspend Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi’s sentences, and order their immediate release.
Earlier, an accountability court in Islamabad sentenced Imran Khan to 14 years in prison along with a fine of Rs1 million, and Bushra Bibi received a seven-year sentence with a Rs500,000 fine. The court had rejected a separate plea for a stay on their sentences, which would have allowed them to be released on bail while their appeals were pending.
About the £190 Million Case
This case, known as the Al-Qadir Trust case, involves allegations that Imran Khan and associates in 2019 facilitated the transfer of Rs50 billion (approximately £190 million at the time) sent by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to the Pakistani government. The funds were linked to assets seized from a property tycoon by the NCA during PTI’s tenure.
The British authorities clarified that the amount was intended as a civil settlement with the property tycoon and did not constitute a guilt finding. However, NAB filed a reference in December 2023 and accused Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi of reaching a settlement with the British agency and approving it on December 3, 2019, without disclosing details of the confidential agreement during his time as Prime Minister. The charges allege that this settlement was approved unlawfully and without transparency.
