A new legal team has been formed for former prime minister Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi, but key party-affiliated lawyers have not been included.
Notably, several key lawyers associated with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were barred from the revamped lineup, Express News reported on Tuesday.
The newly appointed team includes prominent names like Barrister Salman Akram Raja, Barrister Salman Safdar and Usman Riaz Gul.
Other members include Chaudhry Zaheer Abbas, Arshad Tabrez and Qausain Faisal Mufti.
Additionally, Khalid Mehmood Yousaf, Chaudhry Ishtiaq, Abu Zar Niazi, Rai Salman Amjad, Shoaib Shaheen, Sardar Qadeer, Ali Ijaz Butter and Mishal Yousafzai have also been brought on board.
But prominent PTI-affiliated lawyers such as Faisal Chaudhry, Barrister Gohar and Sher Afzal Marwat were notably absent from the list, raising questions about the decision-making process behind the reshuffle.
The revamped legal team is tasked with defending Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi in the high-profile Toshakhana case, which centers on allegations related to gifts received during Khan’s tenure as prime minister.
Observers have speculated that the exclusion of experienced PTI-affiliated lawyers indicates a potential shift in legal strategy as the case progresses.
Imran sets the deadline for the courts
On Monday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan ordered his party’s negotiating team to withdraw from further talks with the government if a judicial commission is not formed within seven days, according to lawyer Gohar.
Speaking to the media outside the Adiala jail, Gohar stressed that the setting up of the judicial commission is essential for a meaningful dialogue.
“If the government does not go ahead with forming the commission, there is no point in continuing the negotiations,” he said.
