ISLAMABAD(National Times)- The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has scheduled a hearing for June 29 on appeals filed by PTI founder Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi challenging their convictions in the £190 million case.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfaraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif will hear the appeals, according to the cause list issued by the registrar’s office. The appeals challenge the trial court verdict concerning the settlement of the UK’s NCA funds and the transfer of land for the Al-Qadir Trust.
Imran and spouse have also filed contempt of court petitions regarding an alleged delay in complying with court directions to submit signed powers of attorney.
The defence previously informed the court that procedural hurdles and difficulties meeting the accused at Adiala jail prevented them from obtaining the documents within the court-mandated seven days.
However, in a fresh response submitted to the IHC, the Adiala jail superintendent claimed the defence misled the court. He said the powers of attorney were prepared and signed on June 16, and that defence counsel Barrister Salman Safdar was informed through a text message the same day.
A screenshot of the message was attached to the court filing. The response said the lawyers deliberately did not obtain the documents before a June 18 hearing. This surprised the court, as Safdar had sought multiple adjournments, maintaining he was unable to meet his clients to complete the formalities. In an earlier hearing, the bench warned the defence counsel that if arguments were not advanced on the next date, the court would proceed with the matter based on the available record.
