IHC directs meeting between Latif Khosa, Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi as appeals hearing faces delay

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday directed authorities to arrange a one-hour meeting between senior lawyer Sardar Latif Khosa and former prime minister and founder Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, as a hearing of their appeals against convictions saw a dispute over legal representation and the time needed to prepare the cases.

Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar issued the direction during proceedings after Barrister Salman Safdar said he had recently been allowed to meet the couple unexpectedly and had received instructions to argue their appeals.

The proceedings concerned appeals filed by Imran and Bushra against their convictions in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case. An accountability court sentenced Imran to 14 years and Bushra to seven years in prison in January 2025.

Safdar told the court that Bushra Bibi had questioned his absence over the past 11 months, saying: “Where were you for the last 11 months?”

He said the situation had created a crisis of confidence between him and his clients, making it difficult for a professional lawyer to proceed with the cases.

The court also questioned Safdar’s earlier position that he had been engaged only to pursue applications for suspension of the couple’s sentences. The chief justice asked him to allow Khosa to begin arguments on the appeals, saying the previous order had already established that Khosa would lead the arguments.

Safdar, however, said the paper books for the appeals had not yet been prepared or provided to the defence, leaving him without the necessary material to prepare the cases.

“I now have instructions to argue the appeals,” he told the court, adding that he needed time to review the record.

Chief Justice Dogar offered him time to prepare the cases, while NAB prosecutor Rafi Maqsood pointed out that the prosecution had repeatedly been accused of delaying proceedings, but the defence was now seeking an adjournment itself.

The chief justice also questioned the characterisation of the proceedings as a sensitive case, saying there was no distinction that prevented appeals involving larger volumes of documents from being decided.

“I made a mistake by calling it an important case,” Dogar remarked, adding that it should be treated like an ordinary case. Safdar agreed, saying he would also refrain from describing it as an important case.

Safdar raises health concerns over Imran, Bushra

During the hearing, Safdar told the court that Imran had complained of uncontrolled blood pressure, which he said had risen above 190, and warned of the risk of a brain haemorrhage.

He added that Imran had told him his eyesight had improved.

Safdar also raised concerns about Bushra Bibi’s eyesight, describing her condition as very poor. He argued that he could not continue addressing the appeals while his client risked losing her vision.

“If the court believes bail cannot be granted, she can at least be granted bail for treatment for six weeks,” he said.

The lawyer also sought relief on medical grounds, while Chief Justice Dogar observed that the health-related matter was already pending before the Federal Constitutional Court. Safdar disputed this, saying no matter concerning Bushra Bibi was pending before that court.

Court orders meeting with Khosa

As the hearing progressed, Safdar objected to being sidelined from the proceedings, saying the court could not simply remove him from the case.

“Tell me directly if the court wants me to withdraw my power of attorney. I cannot simply be removed from the proceedings in this manner,” he said.

Khosa also told the court that his name had repeatedly been sent to jail authorities but he had not been allowed to meet the former prime minister and his wife.

The chief justice subsequently directed Islamabad Advocate General to arrange a one-hour meeting between Khosa and the couple at Adiala Jail.

Khosa requested a one-hour meeting, which Dogar approved, directing the advocate general to make the necessary arrangements.

PTI lawyer Salman Akram Raja also requested that Safdar be allowed to accompany Khosa to the meeting. The advocate general questioned the need to accommodate additional lawyers, saying he was already arranging the meeting in accordance with the law.

The advocate general also sought an assurance that Khosa would begin arguments at the next hearing before arranging the meeting.