ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday instructed the relevant authorities to arrange a meeting between jailed PTI founder Imran Khan and his legal counsel in connection with the £190 million corruption case.
The directive was issued during the hearing of petitions filed by Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, seeking the suspension of their sentences in the case. The court also signalled the possibility of an early decision on the couple’s main appeals against their convictions.
The hearing was conducted by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif.
Representing the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Special Prosecutor Javed Ashraf and Senior Prosecutor Rafay Maqsood appeared before the court, while Barrister Salman Safdar represented the PTI founder.
During the proceedings, the chief justice questioned when the main appeals would be taken up, noting that applications for suspension of sentence were also pending.
Barrister Safdar informed the bench that he needed to consult his client before proceeding further. In response, the court directed jail authorities to facilitate a meeting with Imran Khan.
“What time would you like to meet tomorrow?” Justice Dogar asked. Safdar requested 2pm, which the court approved, ordering the authorities to make the necessary arrangements.
Although Tuesday and Thursday are designated court-approved days for meetings between Imran, his family, lawyers and party leaders at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail, such meetings have reportedly faced repeated restrictions.
The bench also indicated its intention to expedite the matter. Chief Justice Dogar observed that once arguments on the main appeals begin, the court could reach a decision within seven days.
“We will fix the appeal for two days every week — you meet your client and assist the court,” Justice Dogar remarked, signalling a swift hearing process.
However, Barrister Safdar requested that the appeal not be formally taken up until after his consultation with Imran in jail. He also urged the court to first decide the suspension of sentence applications, particularly Bushra Bibi’s plea.
Following the discussion, the hearing was adjourned until April 9 (Thursday).
The £190m corruption case
Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned since August 5, 2023, was earlier jailed for concealing details of Toshakhana gifts and is currently serving a 14-year sentence at Adiala jail in the £190 million case, also known as the Al-Qadir Trust case.
On January 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 in the IHC on January 27.
According to the allegations, the couple received billions of rupees and land spanning hundreds of kanals from Bahria Town Ltd in exchange for legalising Rs50 billion that had been identified and repatriated to Pakistan by the United Kingdom during the PTI government.
The case hearing had been postponed on Monday due to the unavailability of the bench.
Speaking to reporters outside the IHC a day earlier, PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan said the party had approached the high court for the 24th time without obtaining relief.
He stressed the importance of timely justice, warning that delays extending beyond 14 months could further increase public frustration and political tensions.
At the March 31 hearing, prosecutors had stated they were ready to present arguments on the main appeal.
The court had directed Imran’s counsel to obtain instructions from his client, while Barrister Safdar had also submitted an additional application requesting that Bushra Bibi’s plea be heard first.
Separately, Imran Khan was convicted in another Toshakhana case in December 2025 and continues to face pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act related to the May 9, 2023 riots.