£190 million case: IHC adjourns the hearing on NAB’s plea

ISLAMABAD ( Muhammad Ibrahim Abbasi):  The hearing on the suspension of sentence petitions of PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in the Islamabad High Court was adjourned till Monday.

The  Islamabad High Court, while accepting the request for time for the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to prepare, indicated that it would announce the next date in a written order.

Acting Chief Justice Sardar Sarfaraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif heard the case.

During the hearing, the court directed to avoid rushing to the rostrum and asked unrelated persons to sit down. Sisters of the PTI founder, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Opposition Leader Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, Faisal Javed, and other leaders were also present in the court.

NAB Special Prosecutor Javed Arshad Advocate and Prosecutor Rafe Maqsood appeared in the court. Javed Arshad took the stand that he was appointed to the case a day before, so at least four weeks should be given for preparation.

Barrister Salman Safdar opposed the NAB’s request and said, “How long will it take for the special prosecutor to read the verdict? If you need adequate time, permit me, I will go to Lahore and return on Monday.”

He added that a woman has also been convicted in this case, and the courts usually suspend the sentences of women, so we should be given an opportunity to present our case so that transparency is maintained.

During the hearing, arguments were exchanged from both sides. NAB prosecutor Rafe Maqsood said, “There is a sentence of fourteen years in this case; it should not be dealt with like a normal case.”

The court accepted NAB’s request and adjourned the hearing. The next date will be given in a written order.