Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were granted what the Islamabad High Court described as a “final opportunity” to present arguments in the high-profile £190 million reference, as the court signaled impatience over repeated delays in proceedings.
In a written order issued on Friday, Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Sarfaraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif directed the legal team of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and his spouse to present final arguments on May 20 without fail.
The court made it clear that no further unnecessary adjournments would be entertained and instructed all parties to ensure their presence at the next hearing. “The court expects that parties will not remain absent nor seek unnecessary delays,” the written verdict stated.
The order noted that the National Accountability Bureau opposed a fresh adjournment request filed by senior lawyer Sardar Salman Safdar. According to the court, all parties had already been instructed during the previous hearing to proceed with arguments on the appeals.
However, instead of advancing the case during Friday’s proceedings, the defence counsel sought another postponement on what the court termed “weak grounds.” The bench also highlighted that the primary appeals had been filed by Salman Safdar himself, making his absence or delay particularly significant.
Given the sensitivity and national importance of the case, the court said it was granting one final chance before moving forward. The judges directed the defence counsel to make necessary arrangements and complete arguments at the next hearing scheduled for May 20.
The PTI founder and Bushra Bibi are seeking suspension of their sentences until a final verdict is issued on their appeals in the main reference.
The £190 million case revolves around allegations that Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi received valuable land from property tycoon Malik Riaz in exchange for facilitating a settlement that allegedly caused a loss of Rs50 billion to Pakistan’s national treasury.
Investigators claim that funds recovered by the UK’s National Crime Agency were meant to be deposited into the state treasury but were instead adjusted against liabilities linked to Malik Riaz in a controversial settlement agreement.
Prosecutors further allege that the couple, acting as trustees of the Al-Qadir Trust, benefitted through the transfer of 458 kanals of land for the establishment of Al-Qadir University in Jhelum.
The case remains one of the most politically charged accountability proceedings in Pakistan, carrying major legal and political implications for the PTI founder ahead of ongoing tensions between the party and state institutions.
About The Author
