By Asif Naveed
ISLAMABAD; The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday directed that the petitions seeking suspension of sentences awarded to the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi be scheduled for an early hearing. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Azam Khan, heard the case.
During the proceedings, PTI founder’s counsel, Barrister Salman Safdar, argued that despite the lapse of eight months, the suspension plea of a woman (Bushra Bibi) had yet to be heard. He urged the court to fix the matter for next week, emphasizing that the final decision rested with the judges but an early hearing was essential, especially concerning Bushra Bibi.
The court subsequently adjourned the hearing but ordered the scheduling of the suspension pleas for early hearing.
Meanwhile, Justice Muhammad Azam Khan separately took up the PTI founder’s plea seeking to halt ongoing actions by NAB, FIA, and the police. The court sought fresh reports from all three institutions on the cases filed against him.
Barrister Salman Safdar and other defense lawyers appeared before the bench, while the PTI founder’s sisters, including Aleema Khan, were also present in the courtroom.
Safdar requested the formation of a larger bench to hear the matter, but NAB’s special prosecutor opposed it, stating that there was no legal basis for such a demand. “We already have the case record; there is no need for a larger bench,” NAB prosecutor Rafiq Maqsood maintained.
Safdar contended that over 127 cases had been registered against the PTI founder, claiming that state institutions were being misused for political victimization, which amounted to a violation of the Constitution. “Two years have passed since this petition was filed, yet nothing has changed,” he remarked.
He further noted that the FIA had registered a cipher-related case in which the PTI founder was convicted, but the IHC later overturned that conviction. “We need clarity on how many cases have resulted in conviction, how many have been challaned, and what the present status is,” Safdar said, urging the court to seek detailed reports from NAB, FIA, and the police.
The judge responded that the decision regarding a larger bench could be taken after receiving those details, but for now, the priority was to ascertain the accurate number and status of the cases.
