NATIONAL ( The cow news digital ) Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, have challenged the verdict in the £190 million case before Pakistan’s Supreme Court, seeking the suspension of their sentences and immediate release.
The petitions were filed after the Islamabad High Court dismissed their applications for suspension of sentence. Both petitioners have requested the apex court to overturn the high court’s ruling, arguing that the decision failed to properly consider the legal merits of their case.
According to the petitions, rejecting the sentence suspension requests was inconsistent with the principles of justice. The applicants contend that although the petitions were declared maintainable, the court did not adequately assess the substantive legal issues or conduct a preliminary review of the available evidence before dismissing them.
The petitions further state that Imran Khan has developed vision-related health complications during his imprisonment and was temporarily shifted outside the prison for medical treatment. They also claim that both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi have experienced serious health concerns and prolonged periods of solitary confinement, resulting in significant physical and psychological hardship.
The legal filing argues that delays in hearing the sentence suspension applications prolonged the judicial process unnecessarily. It also notes that bail had previously been granted during the trial stage and maintains that the allegations against the couple lack sufficient legal basis.
The petitioners have further alleged that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) repeatedly sought adjournments, causing delays in the appeal process and affecting timely access to justice. They contend that the Supreme Court has the authority to examine the merits of the case while considering an application for suspension of sentence.
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The petitions also challenge the legality of the couple’s arrest, describing the process as unlawful and politically motivated. They argue that previous court rulings had questioned the legality of the arrest and maintain that accountability proceedings were used for political purposes.
Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi have requested the Supreme Court to set aside the Islamabad High Court’s decision, suspend their sentences, and order their release pending the final outcome of the appeal. The Supreme Court has not yet announced a date for hearing the petitions.
