Imran’s lawyers have requested a stay of his sentence on medical grounds and are seeking his release on bail
Former First Lady Bushra Bibi (L) and former Prime Minister Imran Khan (R). Photo: File
ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad High Court has ordered petitions to stay the sentences of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in the £190 million case to be fixed for hearing on March 11. Lawyers for Imran have requested the court to suspend his sentence on medical grounds and grant him bail.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Azam Khan was hearing various applications seeking early hearing of pleas seeking reprieve. Barrister Salman Safdar appeared in court on behalf of Khan.
During the hearing, the chief justice expressed displeasure when a large number of PTI-affiliated lawyers approached the lectern and questioned whether they were trying to influence the court.
Safdar claimed that Imran was suffering from an eye disease and was taken to the hospital for treatment. He clarified that he was not requesting an immediate hearing of the main appeal, but noted that the applications for a stay of sentence had been pending for almost a year.
He further told the court that the justice office had not fixed the applications for early hearing despite five different petitions being filed and urged the court to schedule the case at the earliest. He also pointed out that Bushra’s petition had similarly been pending for a year.
The court accepted the request for an early hearing and ordered that the sentencing petitions of Imran and Bushra be heard on March 11.
