Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi seek suspension of sentences in Toshakhana‑2 case

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have filed petitions in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking suspension of their convictions and sentences in the Toshakhana‑2 case on medical and legal grounds, their lawyers said on Saturday.

Barristers Salman Safdar and Salman Akram Raja filed the petitions under provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code, asking the court to suspend the December 20, 2025 conviction and order their release on bail until final disposal of their criminal appeal.

In December 2025, a special court found Khan and Bushra guilty in the Toshakhana‑2 case involving the under‑priced purchase and sale of a luxury Bulgari jewellery set from the state gift depository, handing them 17‑year prison terms and fines.

The sentences comprise 10 years for criminal breach of trust and seven years under the Prevention of Corruption Act, along with fines totaling Rs16.4 million each.

The petition argues that the convictions should be stayed on medical and humanitarian grounds, citing a serious right‑eye condition afflicting the 73‑year‑old former premier.

According to medical evidence filed with the court, a blood clot has severely damaged Khan’s right eye, reducing vision to about 15 per cent, and his lawyers say the ailment cannot be adequately treated inside prison. They also seek an early hearing of a separate plea for suspension of his sentence in the high‑profile £190 million Al‑Qadir Trust corruption case.

Khan’s counsel argued that the Toshakhana‑2 conviction also suffers from legal infirmities, including allegations that the trial court erred in treating an elected office‑holder as a “public servant” for criminal breach of trust, and that the prosecution’s case improperly handled key witnesses.

The petition maintains the sentencing violated legal principles and that Khan and Bushra remained on bail during the trial and complied with conditions imposed by the accountability court.

Their appeal describes a “relentless and targeted pattern of legal action” against the couple since Khan’s removal from office, saying multiple prosecutions across jurisdictions reflect political victimisation.

Bushra Bibi, who was previously granted bail in another Toshakhana case and released after nearly nine months in 2024, remains incarcerated on the Toshakhana‑2 conviction.

The petitions were filed as part of a broader legal strategy that includes separate applications for early hearing of challenges to convictions in other cases against Khan, including the £190 million corruption reference. Court officials said the registrar’s office is likely to place the matters before a bench next week for possible scheduling of hearings.

The development comes amid ongoing political tensions in Pakistan over Khan’s imprisonment, health concerns and access to medical care, which have sparked protests by his supporters.