Bushra Bibi, the wife of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, has approached the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) with an urgent request to expedite the hearing of her appeal for the suspension of her sentence in the Al-Qadir Trust case.
Background of the Case
In January of the previous year, Bushra Bibi received a seven-year prison sentence in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case. She is currently serving her sentence at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. The court found both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi guilty of improperly aiding property magnate Malik Riaz in recovering money laundered from the UK.
Initially, in July last year, Bushra alongside Imran Khan sought the Islamabad High Court’s intervention to suspend her sentence. However, in May 2026, the court rejected their appeals, noting that their challenge to the convictions was already scheduled for a hearing.
Legal Proceedings and Health Concerns
Following the Islamabad High Court’s decision, the couple appealed to the Supreme Court, but their petition was returned due to jurisdictional issues. The Supreme Court indicated that the appropriate course of action was to approach the FCC under the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999.
On July 30, Bushra Bibi filed a criminal appeal with the FCC, arguing that her medical condition warranted a suspension of her sentence, in line with provisions under the Code of Criminal Procedure. Her legal representative, Barrister Salman Safdar, highlighted her deteriorating eye condition as a pressing health concern.
Medical Condition and Legal Argument
The application emphasized that Bushra Bibi’s involvement in the case was limited to aiding and abetting, rather than committing a primary offense. It also noted that as a 54-year-old woman with significant health issues, her case should be prioritized.
Bushra Bibi has experienced severe and irreversible health impacts due to the prolonged delay in hearing her appeal. She underwent eye surgery in April 2026 and continues to face serious risks to her eyesight, as documented in medical reports submitted to the Supreme Court.
Request for Urgent Hearing
Her plea underscores that the delay in adjudicating her appeal has endangered her health and that of her eyesight. The application has been pending for approximately 19 months, and Bushra Bibi is requesting that the FCC expedite the process without delving into the main appeal’s merits.
She has appealed for the FCC to schedule a hearing for the week starting September 21, to ensure justice is served promptly.
