IHC fixes March 31 hearing on Imran, Bushra Bibi appeals in £190m Al-Qadir Case

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday scheduled March 31 for hearing petitions filed by Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi challenging their conviction in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust corruption case.

According to the cause list, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif will hear pleas seeking suspension of their sentences.

An accountability court had, on January 17, 2025, sentenced Imran Khan to 14 years and Bushra Bibi to seven years in prison in the high-profile graft case.

During earlier proceedings on March 11, the IHC had expressed displeasure over delays attributed to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), even imposing a Rs100,000 fine for what it termed “delaying tactics”. However, the subsequent written order did not include the fine, though NAB was directed to come fully prepared at the next hearing.

The defence has consistently pushed for an expedited decision, urging the court to conclude proceedings before Eid holidays. The appeals had earlier faced procedural objections from the registrar’s office, including unsigned documents and missing certifications, which were later resolved, paving the way for hearings.

SC to Resume Defamation Case Hearing

Separately, the Supreme Court of Pakistan is also set to take up on March 31 Imran Khan’s appeals in a Rs10 billion defamation case filed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar, along with Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, will resume proceedings.

The case stems from a 2017 lawsuit filed by Shehbaz Sharif, alleging that Imran Khan made defamatory claims during a television appearance and public rally, accusing him of offering a Rs10 billion bribe in connection with the Panama Papers controversy involving former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

Earlier, the Lahore High Court had dismissed Imran’s plea to include the Punjab government as a party in the case, ruling that the matter was a private dispute between individuals. The court also rejected requests related to jurisdiction and procedural objections.

Notably, this case is distinct from another set of proceedings in which a separate Supreme Court bench, headed by Justice Ayesha Malik, had stayed trial court proceedings in the same defamation suit.

The March 31 hearings in both the IHC and Supreme Court are seen as crucial developments in the legal challenges faced by the former prime minister, with decisions likely to shape the trajectory of these high-stakes cases.