Pakistan court reschedules Imran Khan graft case after abrupt cancellation

A Pakistani court will hear the £190 million corruption case involving former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, on Tuesday after proceedings were abruptly canceled earlier in the day, prompting legal objections and protests outside the courthouse.

The hearing at the Islamabad High Court was initially scheduled before a single bench of Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar but was called off due to his unavailability, according to court officials.

The cancellation led to immediate intervention by Khan’s legal team.

Khan’s lawyer, Salman Safdar, said he formally approached the chief justice’s office to request an urgent hearing of bail applications. He said the court administration later assured the case would be fixed for the following morning.

“We have recorded our protest and requested that the matter be taken up without further delay,” Safdar told reporters outside the court.

Safdar also said he had not been allowed to meet his client for more than three months.

Khan’s sisters stage sit-in outside court

Meanwhile, Khan’s sisters staged a sit-in outside the court premises. A heavy contingent of police was deployed in the area, and prison vans were seen arriving at the site, underscoring heightened security.

Safdar criticized the National Accountability Bureau, accusing it of using delaying tactics by focusing on appeals instead of responding to bail applications.

Senior leaders from Khan’s party also spoke to reporters outside the court.

Salman Akram Raja said the case reflected broader institutional breakdown, while Barrister Gohar Ali Khan expressed frustration over repeated court appearances without progress.

“We have come here more than 20 times and have been disappointed again,” Gohar said, warning that public anger was rising.

The case has become a major flashpoint in Pakistan’s political landscape. Khan’s supporters allege judicial bias, while the government maintains that legal proceedings are being conducted in accordance with the law.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif is now scheduled to hear the case on Tuesday.