IHC Schedules Hearing for PTI Founder and Bushra Bibi in £190m Case

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has fixed March 31, 2026, to hear the petitions filed by the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi for the suspension of their sentences in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case. The division bench consists of Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has filed a miscellaneous application arguing that the suspension pleas are inadmissible because the main appeals against the conviction have not yet been formally admitted for regular hearing.An accountability court sentenced the PTI founder to 14 years and Bushra Bibi to 7 years of rigorous imprisonment on January 17, 2025.

The case has been marked by significant procedural delays, with the IHC recently fining NAB Rs 100,000 on March 11 for employing what the bench described as “delaying tactics.”

Legal Hurdles and NAB’s Objections

The upcoming March 31 hearing is expected to be a high-stakes legal battle centered on the maintainability of the suspension applications:

• The “Premature” Argument: NAB prosecutor Muhammad Rafay contends that under Section 426 of the CrPC, a sentence can only be suspended while an appeal is “pending,” which NAB interprets as an appeal that has already been formally admitted.
• Defense’s Urgency: Lead counsel Barrister Salman Safdar has pushed for a swift resolution, highlighting that Bushra Bibi has been serving her sentence for over 14 months and noting the founder’s health concerns (specifically a recurring eye ailment).
• The “Religious Rituals” Controversy: During the mid-March proceedings, the IHC expressed extreme displeasure when a NAB prosecutor justified the absence of a senior colleague by stating he was busy with “religious rituals,” leading to the aforementioned fine.

The £190 Million Al-Qadir Trust Case

The case revolves around allegations of corruption and misuse of authority during the PTI government’s tenure:

• The Settlement: It involves a £190 million settlement between the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and a prominent Pakistani property tycoon.
• The Allegation: NAB claims that instead of the funds going to the national treasury, they were adjusted against a Supreme Court fine for the tycoon, in exchange for which land and billions of rupees were allegedly gifted to the Al-Qadir Trust.
• The Conviction: On January 17, 2025, Judge Nasir Javed Rana found the couple guilty, also imposing fines of Rs 1 million on the founder and Rs 500,000 on Bushra Bibi.

Wider Judicial Context (March 27, 2026)

The March 31 hearing takes place during a busy week for the judiciary:

• Eid Holiday Pressure: The defense is urging the court to reach a decision before the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays, which are expected to begin shortly.
• Toshakhana 2.0: Separately, the IHC has also recently removed registrar office objections in the Toshakhana 2.0 case, paving the way for similar suspension hearings in that matter.

Key Case Details at a Glance

Impact on the Political Landscape

1. Party Morale: The outcome of the suspension plea is viewed as a “litmus test” for the PTI leadership’s efforts to secure legal relief for their founder before the next local body polls.
2. Public Interest: If you are in Islamabad on March 31, expect heavy security and traffic diversions around the Constitution Avenue and the High Court premises.
3. Digital Connectivity: With the recent 5G launch in Islamabad, supporters are expected to follow the proceedings via real-time social media updates and live streams from court reporters.

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