The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday postponed the hearing of petitions filed by former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, seeking suspension of their sentences in the Al-Qadir Trust case. The two-member bench, headed by IHC Chief Justice Sarfaraz Dogar and Justice Azam Khan, adjourned the matter until October 16 after the absence of Special Prosecutor Arshad Javed Bhatti. The delay marked yet another extension in the case proceedings, with the last hearing held on June 26.
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During the hearing, Imran Khan’s counsel, Barrister Salman Safdar, raised concerns about the obstacles faced by lawyers while entering the courtroom. He argued that professional lawyers had been appearing for years without ever causing a law and order issue. Other senior lawyers, including Barrister Ali Zafar and Salman Akram Raja, echoed similar complaints. In response, the Chief Justice expressed regret and apologized for the inconvenience caused to the legal representatives.
The case, widely known as the 190 million-pound scandal, saw Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi convicted by an accountability court on January 17, 2025. The court sentenced Khan to 14 years in prison and his wife to seven years. Additionally, Imran was fined Rs1 million, while Bushra Bibi was directed to pay Rs500,000. The verdict further stipulated additional prison terms in case of non-payment of fines.
Moreover, the accountability court declared that the property of the Al-Qadir University Project Trust would be forfeited to the federal government. The judgment was delivered under Section 10(a) of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999, marking a significant blow to the couple. The case revolves around allegations of financial irregularities and misuse of funds tied to the trust.
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Legal experts believe the upcoming hearing on October 16 will play a crucial role in determining whether the couple’s appeals for sentence suspension gain momentum. Until then, the adjournment has left both the petitioners and their supporters waiting for clarity. With the matter being high-profile, it continues to draw intense political and public attention across the country.