The Islamabad High Court has directed jail authorities to arrange a meeting between former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his lawyer in the £190 million case. The court issued the order during the hearing of appeals related to the suspension of sentences.
The directive was issued by a two-member bench headed by Chief Justice Sarfaraz Dogar. The court instructed Adiala Jail officials to ensure that lawyer Salman Safdar is allowed to meet Imran Khan at 2:00 PM on Wednesday.
The issue of meeting access was raised during the proceedings. It was noted that Imran Khan has not been allowed to meet his legal team or his family members, including his sisters, for more than three months. This raised concerns during the hearing.
The court was hearing appeals filed by Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, against their convictions in the £190 million case. The appeals relate to requests for suspension of their sentences.
During the hearing, the bench observed that if arguments on the appeals are formally started, a decision could be reached within a week. This remark was made while discussing the pace of proceedings and the possibility of expedited hearings.
Salman Safdar appeared before the court and requested permission to meet his client before proceeding with arguments. The court accepted the request and ordered jail authorities to facilitate the meeting at the scheduled time.
The lawyer also indicated that he would prefer to consult with his client before presenting detailed arguments in court. The court acknowledged the request and allowed the meeting to take place first.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) special prosecutor also requested that the case be scheduled for hearing on Monday. However, the court noted that scheduling depends on judicial availability and prior commitments.
