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Imran, Bushra Urge IHC for Early Hearing in Al-Qadir Conviction Appeal
Imran Khan & Bushra Bibi file plea in IHC seeking urgent hearing on suspension of sentence in £190m Al-Qadir Trust case, citing denial of constitutional right to speedy justice.
ND
by News Desk
2025-07-08
Imran, Bushra Urge IHC for Early Hearing in Al-Qadir Conviction Appeal

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi on Tuesday submitted an application in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), requesting an expedited hearing of their plea for the suspension of their convictions in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust corruption case.

The couple was convicted on January 17, with Imran Khan handed a 14-year sentence and Bushra Bibi a 7-year term, in a case involving the alleged misuse of funds recovered from the UK and irregular land transactions with Bahria Town Ltd. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) accuses them of legalising Rs50 billion recovered by British authorities and repatriated to Pakistan, in exchange for vast land grants and financial benefits.

In their latest application, Imran Khan’s legal team argued that the delay in hearing the suspension plea violates his constitutional right to a speedy trial, referencing Article 9 of the Constitution which ensures the right to liberty. The plea emphasized that the matter has not been treated in line with judicial norms, with multiple delays caused by NAB's repeated requests for adjournments under the pretext of engaging special prosecutors.

The petition recalled that hearings had been held on May 15, May 27, June 5, and June 26, but despite verbal assurances, no concrete date has been fixed for adjudication. Imran’s counsel contended that the case has been deprioritized “without lawful justification” and termed the conviction as politically motivated.

Bushra Bibi also filed a similar application. Her legal team highlighted the gender-specific legal protections available to female detainees under both Pakistani law and Islamic jurisprudence, demanding urgency and leniency in her case. Her counsel pointed out that she had been subjected to multiple legal proceedings with “malicious intent,” including the now-dismissed Iddat case filed by her ex-husband, Khawar Fareed Maneka.

The petition stressed that Bushra Bibi’s detention not only infringes upon Article 4 and Article 9 of the Constitution but also disregards legal provisions that favor expedited bail hearings for women. Her legal team further noted that she has faced 13 different cases, from which she has been acquitted, questioning the legitimacy and consistency of the prosecutions against her.

The NAB had initially filed the reference in December 2023, naming Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi, and others, accusing them of playing a central role in the misappropriation of public funds and facilitating an unlawful transaction favoring Bahria Town.

Despite multiple court appearances and hearings, the former prime minister and first lady remain behind bars, awaiting progress on their appeals. The Islamabad High Court has yet to announce a new hearing date following the fresh plea for urgency.

 
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