ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has directed authorities to facilitate meetings between jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi and their lawyers at Adiala Jail as hearings on their appeals in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case continue.
A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif issued the directions on Tuesday while hearing appeals against the convictions of the former prime minister and his wife.
During the proceedings, lawyer Sardar Latif Khosa told the court that repeated requests to meet his client had not been facilitated. He sought at least one hour for consultation, following which the chief justice directed the Islamabad advocate general to arrange the meeting within two days.
Barrister Salman Safdar also requested further access to the couple, explaining that his earlier consultation had not provided sufficient time to discuss the appeals. He said he had met Imran after seven months and Bushra Bibi after 11 months.
Lawyers raise health concerns
During the hearing, Safdar expressed concern over the medical condition of both prisoners.
He told the court that Imran had reported improved eyesight but continued to experience uncontrolled blood pressure. The lawyer warned that the condition could carry a risk of brain haemorrhage. Regarding Bushra Bibi, Safdar raised concerns about her deteriorating eyesight and told the court that another eye operation was reportedly scheduled for November 15. He requested an independent medical board to examine her condition, arguing that adequate treatment could not be ensured inside the prison.
Islamabad Advocate General Naveed Malik, however, informed the bench that Bushra Bibi was receiving medical attention and presented records of the facilities provided to her. The court also discussed the preparation of paper books containing relevant case documents. Safdar said the defence had not received all the required material, making it difficult to prepare arguments.
Appeals adjourned for 10 days
The bench granted the defence additional time to prepare its arguments and directed lawyers to begin presenting their cases at the next hearing. The appeals were adjourned for 10 days. An accountability court had sentenced Imran Khan to 14 years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs1 million in the Al-Qadir Trust case. Bushra Bibi received a seven-year prison sentence and a fine of Rs500,000.
