National ( The cow news digital ) The Islamabad High Court has granted a final opportunity to the legal team representing former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to present arguments in their appeals against convictions in the £190 million case.
A two-member division bench comprising Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif issued a written order following the latest hearing on the appeals. The court accepted a request to adjourn the proceedings after senior counsel Sardar Latif Khosa assured the bench that he would present arguments at the next hearing.
According to the written order, Sardar Latif Khosa is the counsel of record for both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi. The court noted that the lawyer provided a clear undertaking that no further request for adjournment would be made and that he would begin arguments on the scheduled date.
The bench emphasized that the adjournment was granted solely on the basis of this assurance and described it as the final opportunity for the defense to argue the appeals.
The court further stated that if arguments are not presented at the next hearing, no additional adjournment will be granted. In that event, the bench said it would proceed to hear the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and decide the appeals based on the available record.
The appeals challenge the convictions handed down in the high-profile £190 million case, which has remained one of the most closely watched legal proceedings involving the former prime minister. The matter has attracted significant public and political attention due to its implications for Pakistan’s political landscape.
The latest order signals the court’s intention to avoid further delays and move the case toward a conclusion. By setting a firm deadline, the bench has indicated that it expects both parties to complete their submissions without additional postponements.
Legal observers say the upcoming hearing could prove crucial, as it may determine whether the defense is able to fully present its case before the court reaches a decision on the appeals. The outcome is expected to carry both legal and political significance given the prominence of the accused and the wider debate surrounding accountability cases in Pakistan.
The next hearing is expected to focus on detailed arguments from the defense, after which the court will hear NAB’s response before considering its verdict on the appeals.
