The Peshawar High Court (PHC) granted transit bail to Bushra Bibi, the wife of PTI founder Imran Khan, until December 23, 2024. Justice Waqar Ahmed, who was presiding over the case, approved her transit bail application after hearing the petitioner's lawyer. According to the petitioner's lawyer, Bushra Bibi has filed transit bail applications in 27 different cases, and the court’s decision will allow her to appear in relevant courts. The Additional Attorney General argued that Bushra Bibi should be required to appear in the courts handling the respective cases. However, Justice Waqar Ahmed clarified that the purpose of transit bail is to ensure her appearance in the relevant courts.

The lawyer representing Bushra Bibi requested an extension of the time, citing her need to appear in over 50 cases. However, Justice Waqar Ahmed declined the request, explaining that more time could not be granted due to the upcoming winter vacations. In a related development, a Rawalpindi accountability court hearing the 190 million-pound references against Bushra Bibi and Imran Khan issued fresh notices to the bailiff while maintaining her non-bailable arrest warrant. Bushra Bibi did not appear in court during the hearing, where Imran Khan was present. Her lawyer, Salman Safdar, submitted an undertaking to assure the court that she would attend the next hearing.

The court acknowledged the assurance, while the prosecution, represented by NAB lawyers, did not oppose the submission. The court had previously granted multiple opportunities for the defense to present statements and cross-examine witnesses, with NAB’s report indicating that Bushra Bibi was not present at her last known address despite efforts to serve her. Additionally, a petition was filed for her exemption from attending the court, though this was met with objections from NAB. The accountability court has adjourned the further hearing of the case until December 5, 2024, and has issued a show-cause notice to her guarantor.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)