IHC directs for meeting between Imran Khan and lawyer before hearing appeals

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday ordered jail authorities to facilitate a meeting between jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his counsel, Barrister Salman Safdar, at 2pm on Wednesday.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif issued the directives while hearing petitions related to the £190 million case and suspension of sentences of Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi.

National Accountability Bureau (NAB) special prosecutors Javed Ashraf and Rafi Maqsood appeared before the court, while Barrister Safdar represented Khan. The order follows the court’s February decision appointing Safdar as a “friend of the court” to monitor the PTI founder’s health. Safdar had earlier reported that Khan had lost approximately 85% of vision in his right eye.

At the start of proceedings, the bench was informed that hearings could not take place a day earlier due to its unavailability. The court took up both the main petitions and related miscellaneous applications together, including requests for early hearing of Bushra Bibi’s plea and facilitation of lawyer-client meetings.

Safdar referred to a March 31 court order in his request to meet Khan. The bench approved the application and directed jail authorities to arrange the meeting at 2pm. Chief Justice Dogar told the counsel: “You may go and meet the PTI founder,” adding that the appeals schedule could be fixed after the meeting.

Barrister Safdar requested the court to also hear applications for suspension of sentences. The chief justice responded: “Go to jail and meet your client; we can fix the appeal schedule thereafter. We can schedule the appeals for two days every week, so you may meet your client first.”

The bench indicated that once arguments begin, it would aim to decide the appeals within seven days.

Khan, in jail since August 2023, faces multiple cases ranging from corruption to terrorism, following his removal from power through a no-confidence motion in April 2022. He has been diagnosed with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), a serious eye condition, according to a report submitted to the Supreme Court by his lawyer and amicus curiae Salman Safdar.

Last month, the IHC directed the capital city chief commissioner to constitute a medical board to assess Khan’s health.