IHC gives Imran Khan’s lawyer last chance to argue £190m case appeal

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday allowed one more adjournment in former prime minister Imran Khan’s appeal against his conviction in the £190 million corruption case, while making clear that no further delay would be entertained.

A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Sarfaraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif issued the written order in the criminal appeal moved by Imran against his conviction in the Al-Qadir Trust case, also referred to as the £190m corruption reference. The conviction had been handed down by an accountability court in January 2025.

At the hearing, Imran’s counsel Sardar Latif Khosa sought two weeks’ time. The court accepted the request after the counsel gave an unequivocal undertaking that he would not ask for another adjournment on any ground and would present arguments on the merits at the next hearing.

“The request for adjournment is acceded to. It is, however, made abundantly clear that this shall constitute the final opportunity,” the order stated.

The bench further directed that if the defence did not proceed with arguments at the next hearing, the court would not grant more time and would decide the appeal on the basis of the available record after hearing the respondents’ side. The matter was adjourned until a date to be fixed by the registrar’s office.

Who appeared before the court

Along with Khosa, senior counsel Salman Akram Raja and Fatehullah Barki appeared for Imran Khan. The National Accountability Bureau was represented by Special Prosecutor Javed Arshad and Senior Special Prosecutor Muhammad Rafay. Islamabad Advocate General Naveed Malik also appeared with state counsels.

Background of the case

The £190m case relates to the Al-Qadir Trust settlement. NAB alleges Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi received billions of rupees and land measuring hundreds of kanals from a real estate firm in exchange for legalising Rs50 billion that had been identified and returned to Pakistan by the United Kingdom during the previous PTI government.

The amount had been placed in the Supreme Court’s account as part of a settlement involving the property tycoon. On Jan 17, 2025, an accountability court in Islamabad sentenced Imran Khan to 14 years in prison and Bushra Bibi to seven years in the same case. Both later challenged their convictions before the IHC.