Court directs jail authorities to arrange the meeting and set it for 2pm, while adjourning the case till Thursday
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan. Photo: File
ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday approved a miscellaneous application seeking to arrange a meeting between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his counsel, Advocate Salman Safdar, directing that the meeting be held on Wednesday at 2pm.
Meanwhile, the court adjourned the hearing of the £190 million case until Thursday.
A division bench comprising IHC Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif heard miscellaneous applications related to the suspension of sentences of the former prime minister and his wife, Bushra Bibi. The proceedings had been delayed a day earlier due to the unavailability of the bench.
Safdar appeared before the court along with National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Special Prosecutor Javed Ashraf and Rafi Maqsood.
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Two miscellaneous applications — one seeking an early hearing of Bushra Bibi’s plea for suspension of sentence and the other requesting a meeting between Imran Khan and his counsel — were taken up alongside the main case.
At the outset, when Safdar began his arguments, the chief justice asked, “Which case are you presenting arguments on today?” Safdar responded that the court had issued an order on March 31.
Upon inquiring about the nature of the miscellaneous application, the court stated, “We approve the application for a meeting with the PTI founder,” adding, “You may go and meet him.”
The bench further directed jail authorities to facilitate the meeting and asked Safdar to propose a suitable time. Upon his request, the court fixed the meeting for 2pm on Wednesday.
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During the hearing, the special prosecutor requested that the next hearing of the £190 million case be scheduled for Monday. However, the chief justice remarked, “We heard the same request yesterday as well, although we do not know what engagements we may have on Monday,” adding that dates are fixed after reviewing the court’s schedule.
Over the weekend, Safdar moved an application in the IHC, seeking its order for Adiala Jail authorities to allow him to meet Imran and Bushra Bibi in order to discuss legal matters related to the case. In the application, Safdar contended that since December 20, 2025, the PTI founder has not been able to hold any meaningful or effective meeting with his counsels.
The counsel further maintained that for approximately three months and twelve days, he has been deprived of proper legal access, which has adversely affected his ability to prepare for proceedings in a case of significant legal importance.
£190 million case
Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi are facing a £190 million graft case linked to the Al-Qadir Trust, a welfare organisation they established in 2018. The trust, which runs a university outside Islamabad focused on spirituality and Islamic teachings, is accused of being used as a front to receive land worth millions of dollars from a real estate tycoon.
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The government claims the donations were in exchange for Imran’s administration using repatriated UK funds to pay fines against the businessman, instead of depositing the money into Pakistan’s treasury.
Imran has denied any wrongdoing, insisting neither he nor his wife gained financially from the trust or related transactions.
