The Islamabad High Court has imposed a fine of Rs100,000 on the National Accountability Bureau for delaying proceedings in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust corruption case involving former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi. The court criticised the anti-graft body for using what it described as delaying tactics during hearings related to the couple’s appeals and requests for suspension of their sentences.
A division bench headed by Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif heard the petitions filed by the couple seeking suspension of their sentences while their appeals against convictions are considered. The court examined legal arguments presented by both sides as it reviewed procedural issues related to the admissibility of the appeals.
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Before the hearing, NAB submitted a legal response raising objections to the petitions and argued that the request for suspension of sentences was premature. The bureau stated that under Section 426 of the Criminal Procedure Code, such a request can only be considered after an appeal is formally admitted for regular hearing.
Meanwhile, defence lawyers strongly criticised the delays and raised concerns about difficulties in preparing the case. Senior lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan told the court that obtaining power of attorney from Imran Khan had been challenging because access to the former prime minister in Adiala Jail remained restricted for several months.
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Defence counsel Salman Safdar also pointed out that the appeals were being heard roughly fourteen months after the convictions were issued, arguing that the delay had affected the legal process. During the hearing, the court also questioned the absence of NAB’s special prosecutor, expressing dissatisfaction with the explanation provided by the prosecution team.
Following the exchange, the bench imposed a fine on NAB and directed the bureau to appear fully prepared at the next hearing. The case relates to the Al-Qadir Trust corruption matter in which an accountability court sentenced Imran Khan to fourteen years and Bushra Bibi to seven years in prison on January 17, 2025, while their appeals continue to face legal and procedural hurdles.