ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court has disposed of the contempt petitions filed by former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, while adjourning the hearing of the appeals filed against the conviction in the £190 million reference for two weeks, giving the defence a final chance to begin arguments.
On Monday, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif heard the appeals of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi. During the proceedings, the court clarified that all the necessary documents related to the power of attorney have been signed, so the contempt petitions are no longer effective.
At the beginning of the hearing, the court expressed its displeasure over the large number of lawyers coming to the rostrum at the same time and directed that only the concerned lawyer should present arguments. The Chief Justice remarked that no pressure will be accepted on the court, and the case will proceed as per the law.
Defence counsel Barrister Salman Safdar took the stand that although the power of attorney related to the Islamabad High Court has been signed, other necessary documents have not been provided yet. On this, the court assured that the remaining records would also be provided.
During the hearing, the Advocate General of Islamabad told the court that during the previous hearing, the defence had given the impression that the power of attorney could not be signed in time, although the jail administration had already contacted the lawyers. The court ruled that since the relevant documents have been completed, there is no need to keep the contempt of court petitions under hearing further.
The court later started hearing the central appeals and directed the defence to present arguments immediately. However, Barrister Salman Safdar took the stand that a petition related to this matter is also under hearing in the Supreme Court, so more time should be given so that the proceedings there are not affected.
On this occasion, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and senior lawyer Latif Khosa sought two weeks’ respite from the court. They assured that the defence would begin arguments with full preparation at the next hearing. The court, while accepting the request, made it clear that this would be the last respite and no further unnecessary delay would be tolerated.
On the same day, another bench of the Islamabad High Court dismissed the objections of the Registrar’s Office on the petitions regarding the alleged solitary confinement of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi and ordered them to be scheduled for a regular hearing.
Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro ruled that the admissibility or not of the petitions would be decided during the court proceedings. The petitioners argued that Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi have been kept in solitary confinement for several months and have limited access to family and other basic facilities.
The NAB prosecutor opposed this position before the court, saying that the matter has been discussed before, and if the petitioners are not satisfied with any decision, they can approach the appropriate legal forum.
The court, while clearing both the petitions from the objections raised by the Registrar’s Office, adjourned further hearings till Tuesday, where questions of legal jurisdiction and admissibility of these petitions will be examined initially.
Meanwhile, the next hearing of the appeals against the conviction in the £190 million reference will be held in two weeks, where the defence is expected to present formal arguments. The court has made it clear that the trial will not be further postponed to a later date.
