The Supreme Court of Pakistan has been approached by the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi seeking suspension of their sentences in the £190 million case, while challenging the verdict of the Islamabad High Court.In the appeals filed before the apex court, the petitioners argued that the Islamabad High Court dismissed their sentence suspension pleas despite repeated adjournments sought by the National Accountability Bureau and ignored key legal aspects of the case.

The applicants contended that the high court rejected the appeals without conducting a preliminary review of evidence, calling the decision contrary to the principles of justice.The appeal stated that jail authorities deliberately delayed obtaining signatures on legal documents. It further claimed that the PTI founder has lost 85 percent vision in his right eye, while Bushra Bibi underwent eye surgery during imprisonment without informing family members or legal counsel.

According to the petition, both the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi were unlawfully confined in a cell at Adiala Jail, where solitary confinement caused severe mental distress. The appeal maintained that refusing sentence suspension despite serious health concerns amounts to injustice. Aleema Khan moves IHC against Imran Khan's solitary confinementThe petitioners also alleged that NAB repeatedly sought adjournments, unnecessarily prolonging proceedings and delaying justice. 

The appeal further stated that bail had previously been granted during trial and some allegations were already declared baseless, making the rejection of sentence suspension contrary to legal principles. It also argued that the arrest procedure was unlawful and that a superior court had earlier ordered release in relation to the arrest.

The petitioners claimed the accountability process was politically motivated and deviated from fair trial principles. The petition requested the Supreme Court to set aside the Islamabad High Court’s decision, suspend the sentences and order the release of both petitioners.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)