IK and Bushra's Petitions Noticed by IHC; Directive to NAB
Updated Scenario:
The latest on Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi's appeals for a stay on their £190 million corruption sentence is here. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has taken notice of their appeals, sending out notices to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and other respondents.
On May 15-16, 2025, the case will be heard by a two-member bench, consisting of Acting Chief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif. The court has scheduled the reply from NAB and other parties for the coming week.
Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were convicted by the Accountability Court (I) Islamabad in January 2025 and sentenced to 14 and 7 years respectively. Imran Khan's legal team has argued that the allegations against him have no substantive evidence and the case is a political move to keep him away from the political arena.
On the other hand, Bushra Bibi’s legal team has pleaded for a speedy hearing considering her lack of direct involvement in the corruption allegations. Meanwhile, Imran Khan's main appeal is lingering at the "motion stage," with no proper hearing scheduled for 2025 due to the court's prioritization policy favoring older cases.
Stay tuned for more updates on this ongoing saga. For now, it appears that the IHC is actively considering the suspension appeals of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi, with proceedings moving forward for both.
[1] Business Recorder, 2025[2] Dawn, 2025[3] The News, 2025[4] Geo News, 2025[5] Pakistan Today, 2025
- In the realm of 'general-news', a 'defi' index and various funding platforms are showing interest in the ongoing legal battle of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi, as the suspense surrounding their appeal for a stay on their corruption sentence continues to impact Pakistan's political landscape.
- The controversies surrounding Imran Khan's and Bushra Bibi's corruption allegations are not confined to 'politics'; some analysts and 'crime-and-justice' experts have expressed concern over the implications for Pakistan's standing in the international finance world, particularly with regards to foreign investment and economic growth.
- As the legal proceedings unfold for Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi, investment management firms are closely monitoring the situation, with some considering the creation of 'index funds' specifically focused on Pakistani political upheavals and their potential ramifications on various sectors.
