Islamabad High Court Directs Jail Authorities to Facilitate Counsel Meeting
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has directed jail authorities to arrange a meeting between incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his lawyer, Barrister Salman Safdar, scheduled for 2 PM on Wednesday. The order was issued by a two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif during a hearing on petitions related to the £190 million case and the suspension of sentences for Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi.
Chief Justice Commits to Expedited Appeal Timeline
During the proceedings, Chief Justice Dogar indicated a swift timeline for the pending appeals. He stated that once arguments commence, the court would aim to decide the appeals within seven days. “We can schedule the appeals for two days every week… we will decide the appeals within seven days, God willing,” the Chief Justice remarked in response to the defense counsel’s requests.
Legal Proceedings and Health Concerns
Barrister Safdar, who was appointed as a “friend of the court” in February, had previously reported that Khan complained of losing 85% of the vision in his right eye during a prior visit. The PTI founder has been diagnosed with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), a serious eye condition. Last month, the IHC directed the formation of a medical board to assess his health.
The hearing also addressed a miscellaneous application for the early hearing of Bushra Bibi’s plea for sentence suspension. Safdar requested an expedited decision on her application, to which the court’s response was noted within the broader context of scheduling the appeals.
Background and Context
Imran Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023, facing multiple cases on charges ranging from corruption to terrorism following his removal from office via a no-confidence motion in April 2022. The current legal focus involves appeals against his conviction and sentence in the high-profile £190 million settlement case.
The court’s directives ensure his legal team can consult with him ahead of substantive appeal hearings, which are now poised to move forward on an accelerated schedule as declared by the bench.
