The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has scheduled June 29 for hearing the main appeals filed by former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi against their convictions in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust corruption case. A two-member division bench, led by Chief Justice Sardar Sarfaraz Dogar and comprising Justice Muhammad Asif, will hear the appeals challenging the sentences handed down by an accountability court in January 2025.
Sentences and Fines
Imran Khan was sentenced to 14 years in prison along with a fine of Rs1 million, while Bushra Bibi received a seven-year term and a fine of Rs500,000. The case, also known as the Al-Qadir Trust reference, stems from allegations that Khan and his associates, during his tenure as prime minister, adjusted Rs50 billion (equivalent to £190 million at the time) that had been repatriated to Pakistan by the UK’s National Crime Agency. Investigators allege that the funds were used to pay fines on behalf of a property tycoon instead of being deposited into the national exchequer, in exchange for land worth millions of dollars transferred to the Al-Qadir Trust.
Procedural Developments
The court earlier rejected requests by the couple to prioritise their sentence suspension pleas, ruling that the applications had become “infructuous” once the main appeals were scheduled for hearing. During proceedings in May, IHC Chief Justice Dogar emphasised that the preferable course was to decide the main appeal at the earliest. In addition to the main appeals, Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi have also filed contempt of court petitions linked to the case, which are expected to be reviewed alongside the appeals during the June 29 hearing. The court had earlier directed the legal team to submit duly signed vakalatnamas within seven days to complete required procedural formalities.
Background of the Case
The Al-Qadir Trust case involves allegations that the former prime minister misused his authority to facilitate a settlement with a real estate developer, causing a loss to the national exchequer. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had filed the reference, accusing Khan and his wife of receiving land worth millions of rupees as a bribe. The couple has denied all charges, maintaining that the trust was established for charitable purposes and that the funds were lawfully utilised.
