Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi seek early hearing of IHC appeals in Toshakhana and £190m cases

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, on Friday moved the Islamabad High Court seeking urgent fixation of their appeals against the Toshakhana-I conviction and for suspension of sentence in the £190 million case, arguing that the matters were being delayed and that the prosecution was using dilatory tactics.

According to the petitions, filed under Section 561-A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the couple also asked the court to direct jail authorities to allow unhindered meetings with their legal team so they could hold the consultations required for the cases.

The applications said the petitioners wanted the early fixation of their appeals against conviction for final adjudication. The plea before the court also sought prompt hearing of the applications related to suspension of sentence in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case.

The move comes after proceedings in the high court on March 31, when the hearing of the sentence suspension applications filed by Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi in the £190 million corruption case was adjourned. At that hearing, the defence counsel had sought time to obtain fresh instructions from his clients.

In their latest petitions, the couple cited what they described as inordinate delays in the hearing of their matters. They also complained of obstacles affecting legal consultation, and requested court directions to ensure access to their lawyers without interruption.

Relief sought from the court

The petitions ask the Islamabad High Court to take up the appeals at the earliest for final hearing. They also seek orders for facilitation of meetings between the petitioners and their counsel in jail for preparation and consultation in connection with the pending proceedings.

The cases relate to two separate matters: the Toshakhana-I case, in which the couple have challenged their conviction, and the £190 million case, in which they are seeking suspension of sentence.

The filing before the court said the prosecution had adopted delaying tactics in the proceedings. The petitioners urged the court to intervene so that the appeals and related applications could be heard without further unnecessary delay.

“inordinate delays” and “dilatory tactics”

The petitions were filed on Friday before the Islamabad High Court. The matter concerns the scheduling of appeals and sentence suspension applications already pending before the court, as well as the request for directions regarding access to legal counsel during incarceration.

No further details were provided in the report regarding the court’s immediate response to the fresh petitions on Friday.