Pakistan court fast-tracks suspension pleas of Imran Khan, wife in graft case

The Islamabad High Court on Thursday directed that the pleas seeking suspension of sentences of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in the £190 million case be fixed for an early hearing.

Chief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar presided over the proceedings, where Khan’s counsel, Barrister Salman Safdar, pressed the court for urgency.

Safdar argued that Pakistan’s anti-graft body, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), had twice claimed no prosecutor was available, and when one finally appeared, they sought more time.

He said five hearing dates had already passed without the case being fixed. Safdar stressed that both Khan and Bushra Bibi had either been acquitted or granted bail in all other cases, and said the suspension petitions should be decided swiftly.

Chief Justice Dogar observed that directions had already been issued to the court office to fix the case soon, but fell short of setting a date.

He added that if the matter was not listed by next week, the court would call for a report. Safdar warned that further delay would render the pleas “meaningless.”

In January 2024, an accountability court convicted Khan and Bushra Bibi in the £190 million case, handing both 14-year jail terms.

Prosecutors alleged the couple improperly benefited from a land transfer linked to a £190 million settlement in the United Kingdom. Both deny wrongdoing, calling the charges politically motivated.

The couple’s legal team filed appeals and suspension pleas soon after the conviction.

With Thursday’s order, the suspension petitions are now expected to be heard as early as next week.