The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday scheduled the main appeals for May 7, filed by the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Bushra Bibi against their conviction in the 190 million pound case, while disposing of their bail petitions as having become infructuous.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif heard the matter. The court rejected the request to hear the sentence suspension applications first, stating that since the main appeals have already been scheduled, the suspension pleas are being disposed of.
The appeals against conviction have been fixed for hearing. Therefore, the applications for suspension of sentence are being disposed of as per the directives of the Supreme Court,” the IHC stated in its written order.
The counsel for the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi strongly pressed for an early decision on the sentence suspension pleas.
The court assured that no injustice would be done to any party and proceeded to dispose off the suspension applications. The court directed the counsel for both parties to ensure their presence in court on May 7 and to come prepared with arguments for the next hearing.
The Accountability Court in Islamabad had sentenced the PTI founder to 14 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 1 million, while Bushra Bibi was sentenced to seven years imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 500,000 in the 190 million pound case. The convicts had filed applications for suspension of sentence in March 2025.
Separately, the IHC on Monday directed the Superintendent of Adiala Jail to decide within two days the application filed by Bushra Bibi’s daughter seeking family meetings and access for her mother’s personal physician.
Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir also summoned the Superintendent of Adiala Jail to appear personally before the court on May 6. The court issued these directives during the hearing of a petition filed by Mubashra, the daughter of Bushra Bibi. Advocate Salman Akram Raja appeared on behalf of the petitioner.
During the proceedings, the court inquired whether the petitioner had submitted an application to the jail authorities. Advocate Raja presented a copy of the application, stating that it had been submitted both via courier and in person at the jail.
Justice Tahir directed the State counsel to decide on the petitioner’s application before the next date of hearing.