IHC allows Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi to meet counsel in £190m case
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ordered authorities to arrange a meeting between former Prime Minister Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, and their legal counsel within seven days. The direction is aimed at facilitating the preparation and filing of appeals in the £190 million corruption reference.
A division bench, headed by Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif, heard the case related to challenges against their conviction in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) reference.
During the hearing, Imran Khan’s lawyer Barrister Salman Safdar informed the court that he had been unable to meet his client at Adiala Jail despite repeated attempts. He said this prevented him from receiving instructions and obtaining a signed vakalatnama required for legal proceedings.
He further stated that prison authorities had repeatedly denied access, making it difficult to move forward with the appeals. He also said his last meeting with Bushra Bibi took place in December, and no further meetings had been allowed since then.
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The bench was told that without proper instructions from the petitioners, legal proceedings could not continue. The counsel also referred to a Supreme Court ruling, stating that similar access had been granted in earlier cases.
Chief Justice Dogar expressed concern over the situation, noting that denial of access to legal counsel could affect the fair administration of justice. He questioned the absence of the advocate general, stating that it was the government’s responsibility to ensure lawyer-client meetings in court matters. The court also recalled its earlier orders, which had previously facilitated meetings between the PTI founder and his legal team.
In its final direction, the court instructed the advocate general Islamabad to ensure that meetings are arranged within seven days so that legal requirements, including signing of the vakalatnama and collection of instructions, can be completed. Further proceedings were adjourned until compliance with the court’s order.
