The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has officially set March 11 as the date to hear the petitions seeking suspension of sentences handed down to former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in the high-profile £190 million corruption case. This decision came during Thursday’s proceedings, where the court also moved forward with related appeals concerning the Toshakhana case, which involves allegations linked to luxury gifts including an expensive Bulgari jewellery set.
The hearing was conducted before a division bench led by Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Azam Khan. The session witnessed a moment of tension when a large group of lawyers associated with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) simultaneously rose and approached the bench, prompting the Chief Justice to express clear displeasure. He questioned the lawyers’ intentions, asking if they were attempting to exert undue influence on the court’s proceedings. Imran Khan’s legal representative, Salman Sardar, quickly responded, assuring the bench that there was no such motive behind their actions.
Salman Sardar emphasized the urgency of the matter, highlighting that the former prime minister was currently suffering from a sudden illness, including an eye infection, which necessitated prompt judicial consideration. He further pointed out that Bushra Bibi, despite being a woman, was serving a seven-year sentence, and her plea for suspension had been pending for over six months. The counsel urged the court to expedite the hearing of these suspension requests, noting that the last judicial order on the matter was issued on November 9 of the previous year.
In response, Chief Justice Dogar acknowledged that many miscellaneous civil applications seeking early hearings had become irrelevant or moot over time. Nonetheless, he directed the court’s registry to overrule the office objections that had been raised against the suspension petitions. Following this, Barrister Sardar requested that the court fix the hearing for the following week. However, the Chief Justice instructed the registrar’s office to schedule both the suspension petitions and the main criminal appeals for a consolidated hearing on March 11, thereby adjourning any further proceedings until that date.
Meanwhile, in a related development, Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro took steps to remove office objections on the petitions seeking suspension of sentences in the Toshakhana case. This case has drawn significant public attention due to its connection with the alleged misuse of official gifts, including the costly Bulgari jewellery set. The court ordered the registrar’s office to officially number the petitions and appeals related to the convictions of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi and to set a hearing date consistent with the court’s procedural policies.
This series of judicial actions marks a critical phase in the ongoing legal battles faced by the former premier and his spouse. The £190 million corruption case, alongside the Toshakhana matter, has been closely followed by political observers and the general public alike, given its implications for Pakistan’s political landscape. The upcoming March 11 hearing is expected to be a significant milestone, potentially influencing the trajectory of these high-profile cases.
