Islamabad(TheCOWNews Digital) The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has scheduled the hearing of sentence suspension petitions filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Patron-in-Chief Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in the high-profile £190 million corruption case. The case will be heard on June 11 by a two-member bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif.
The Registrar’s Office of the IHC released the cause list for Wednesday, confirming the inclusion of the petitions seeking the suspension of sentences handed down by an accountability court earlier this year.
Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were convicted by an accountability court on January 17, 2025. The court sentenced Imran Khan to 14 years in prison and Bushra Bibi to 7 years over their alleged involvement in the illegal transfer and concealment of £190 million, which were repatriated to Pakistan from the UK by the National Crime Agency (NCA) in a controversial settlement.
The conviction, which was one of several legal blows faced by the PTI founder, sparked significant public and political debate. Both convicts filed petitions seeking suspension of their sentences and release on bail, arguing that the case was politically motivated and legally flawed.
Earlier, the IHC had adjourned the hearing scheduled for June 5 after the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) requested more time to appoint a special public prosecutor. The court had granted NAB a final extension until the next hearing. Notably, NAB had already been issued a notice during the May 15 proceedings, directing it to file a written response to the appeals.
Legal experts suggest that Wednesday’s hearing could be a turning point in the ongoing legal battle for the former prime minister and his spouse. With the IHC now actively engaged and a full bench in place, both petitioners are hopeful for interim relief, at the very least in the form of bail while appeals proceed.
The case revolves around the misuse of authority in handling £190 million recovered by UK authorities from a Pakistani real estate tycoon. Critics allege that the money, which was meant for the state, was instead used for personal and political gains. Imran Khan and his legal team, however, insist that all actions were within legal and governmental frameworks and deny any wrongdoing.
The PTI leadership has repeatedly stated that the case and subsequent sentencing were part of a larger campaign to eliminate Imran Khan from the political landscape ahead of the 2025 general elections.
As the hearing approaches, PTI supporters are expected to rally peacefully near the court premises, amid heavy security measures. The outcome of this hearing will be watched closely by legal analysts, political commentators, and international observers alike, given its potential implications for Pakistan’s political future.
