On Wednesday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) took a stern stance against the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) by imposing a fine of Rs100,000 on its special prosecutor for intentionally delaying the legal proceedings in the high-profile £190 million Al-Qadir Trust corruption case. This case implicates former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, and has been a focal point of political and judicial scrutiny for months. The court’s decision reflects growing impatience with procedural delays that have prolonged the trial and hindered swift justice.
The division bench presiding over the matter consists of IHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif. They are currently hearing petitions filed by Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi, which seek suspension of their sentences related to the Al-Qadir Trust case. This case involves serious allegations dating back to 2019, when it was claimed that Rs50 billion—equivalent to £190 million at the time—was improperly adjusted by Imran Khan and others during his tenure as prime minister. The funds in question were transferred by Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to the Pakistani government.
It is important to understand the background of the funds involved. The money originated from assets seized by the NCA from a British property tycoon. The NCA had clarified that the settlement with Pakistan was a civil matter, emphasizing that it did not imply any criminal guilt on the part of the individuals involved. However, the handling of these funds during Imran Khan’s administration raised serious concerns, leading to the corruption allegations that now form the basis of this lengthy legal battle.
Before the day’s hearing commenced, NAB submitted a miscellaneous plea requesting the court to declare the suspension petitions filed by the former premier and his wife inadmissible. The bureau argued that the main appeals against their convictions had yet to be scheduled for hearing and that no formal notices had been served regarding those appeals. Therefore, NAB contended that the requests to suspend the sentences were premature and not maintainable under the law. This legal tussle highlights the procedural complexities that often characterize accountability cases in Pakistan.
During the proceedings, prominent defence lawyers Salman Safdar and Aitzaz Ahsan represented Imran Khan. Safdar informed the bench that Ahsan, his senior counsel, was present to assist with the case. Ahsan brought to the court’s attention an unusual issue concerning the submission of his power of attorney. He explained that although he had sent the document from Lahore for filing, the court had pointed out the previous day that it required Imran Khan’s signature on the power of attorney. The court subsequently instructed the advocate general to obtain the signature from the prison authorities and submit it promptly. Ahsan emphasized that the defence was not seeking any adjournment and urged the court to take strict measures against any delays in this regard.
Chief Justice Dogar remarked that typically prison authorities cooperate in obtaining such signatures upon request. However, Safdar countered that despite repeated attempts, the defence had been unable to secure the signed authorization for over four months. This back-and-forth underscored the procedural hurdles facing the defence team. The court then proceeded to hear the petitions requesting suspension of sentences.
Safdar stated that he had not been instructed to argue on medical grounds at this stage but promised to submit certified copies of relevant Supreme Court rulings during the next hearing. He criticized the prosecution for the absence of the special prosecutor at the start of the hearing and accused NAB of deliberately avoiding confrontation on the merits of the case. Furthermore, Safdar alleged that Imran Khan’s arrest from within the Islamabad High Court premises was unlawful and suggested that the authorities were determined to keep the former prime minister in custody indefinitely.
In support of his arguments, Safdar cited a precedent from the Lahore High Court’s Multan Bench, where a convict’s sentence was suspended due to loss of eyesight. He reminded the court that Imran Khan was serving a 14-year sentence and that the petitions for suspension had taken 14 months to come up for hearing. He implored the bench to expedite the decision before the upcoming Eid al-Fitr celebrations, emphasizing that the defence was only seeking a hearing date and not a final verdict. Safdar also accused the prosecution of repeatedly seeking adjournments, thereby unnecessarily prolonging the matter.
In response, NAB’s special prosecutor Rafay Maqsood reiterated the bureau’s stance that the suspension petitions were not maintainable since the main appeals had not been formally fixed or notified. He argued that the prosecution was entitled to a fair trial under Article 10-A of the Constitution, which ensures justice for all parties involved. The chief justice instructed the defence to carefully review the prosecution’s petition, signaling that the court was keen to ensure both sides were heard thoroughly.
At one point, the bench asked senior lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan to take his seat as the exchange between the defence and prosecution intensified. Safdar accused NAB of using delaying tactics as a tool against the former premier and pressed the court to impose penalties on the special prosecutor for obstructing the process. Ahsan clarified that the defence was not seeking any adjournment but rather daily hearings to avoid further delays. He added that if the power of attorney had not yet been filed, the court could still proceed with arguments put forward by Safdar.
After considering the submissions, the Islamabad High Court imposed a fine of Rs100,000 on the NAB special prosecutor as a reprimand for the delaying tactics. The bench also issued a notice to Imran Khan regarding NAB’s plea to declare his petitions inadmissible and adjourned the hearing to a later date. Following the court proceedings, defence lawyers, including Salman Safdar and Imran Khan’s sisters, were seen outside the Chief Justice’s secretary office, actively seeking a date for the next hearing. Meanwhile, NAB officials confirmed that their special prosecutor would attend the upcoming session, signaling that the legal battle is far from over.
