Islamabad: The Superior Court of Islamabad on Thursday issued notices to the National Office of Responsibility (NAB) and others in response to requests that seek suspension of sentences granted to the founder of PTI Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in the case of corruption of £ 190 million.
A bank of the IHC division comprising the president of the Interim Supreme Court Sardar Mohammad Sarfaraz Dogar and Judge Muhammad Asif directed that the case would be fixed next week after a request from the lawyer Senior Sardar Latif Khosa.
The Court Chamber witnessed the presence of a high profile high -profile team of the PTI, including Salman Akram Raja, lawyer Syed Ali Zafar, Niazullah Khan Niazi and Shoaib Shaheen, as well as the leaders of PTI Aleema Khan, Asad Qaiser, Shandana Gulzar, Khalid, Khalid Chaudhry and Nadhry Nadhry and Nadiak.
A Court of Responsibility in Islamabad had sentenced the former prime minister and Bushra Bibi to 14 and seven years in prison, respectively, on January 17 of this year.
The case of the leaders will be solved for the audience next week
In his appeal against the conviction, the legal team of the former prime minister highlighted significant procedural irregularities, key evidence and political victimization.
The defense indicated a November 2021 judgment of the United Kingdom Court of Appeals that, they argued, clearly established that the disputed £ 190 million was not a product of the crime.
The funds, part of an agreement between the National Crime Agency of the United Kingdom (NCA) and the Malik Riaz Hussain Property Magnate, had to be transferred to the Supreme Court under a legally binding agreement.
The appeal criticized NAB for not presenting witnesses of the NCA or presenting a credible documentation to establish irregularity.
The defense also challenged the authenticity of a “confidentiality writing” presented by NAB, describing it as not verified and not backed by forensic validation. The lawyers argued that the writing was of a procedural nature and was not indicative of any criminal activity.
Mr. Khan’s request said there was no evidence of personal financial gain and that the funds in question were deposited in the Al-Qadir University Trust, a legally registered entity for educational purposes.
“The prosecution’s own evidence confirms that Mr. Khan or his wife did not receive monetary donations or benefits,” the appeal said.
In addition, the petition accused NAB of a politically motivated investigation, highlighting the selective orientation of PTI’s founder while omiting six other people involved.
Bushra Bibi, who turns a sentence of seven years in the same case, presented a separate appeal that said that the case against her lacked credible evidence and was rooted in a political revenge.
His legal team referred to the testimony of the Financial Director (PW-5) of Al-Qadir Trust, who, according to the reports, confirmed that neither her nor her husband obtained any financial advantage of the trust.
Later, speaking with journalists outside the courtroom, lawyer Syed Ali Zafar confirmed that lawyer Gohar Ali Khan recently held a meeting with the founder of the party. Development occurs in the midst of the growing speculation about possible negotiations between PTI and the government.
Barríster Zafar acknowledged that there has been a stir of the media regarding the opening of PTI’s founder to dialogue. However, he clarified that the lawyer Gohar has not confirmed or denied the reports of possible conversations, emphasizing that any communication with the founder of PTI is still confidential.
“The matter has not yet been discussed in our Central Committee,” said Zafar. “Imran Khan, the founder of PTI, has constantly maintained that the current government is not legitimate. Any decision or instruction regarding the negotiations will be taken only after clear instructions are received from both the lawyer and the founder of the party.”
Zafar reiterated that PTI remains united for Pakistan and is open to dialogue, but any formal conversation will depend completely on the leadership directives of the party.
“If the founder of PTI instructs us to participate in conversations, we will advance accordingly,” he said.
Aleem Khan, Imran Khan’s sister, on the other hand, rejected the reports strongly who suggested that his brother agreed to initiate conversations with the government. Speaking to the media outside the Superior Court of Islamabad, he said that such statements were unfounded and manufactured.
“I don’t understand where this news comes from,” he said, referring to the alleged Channal negotiations.
Posted in Dawn, May 16, 2025
