IHC rejects Imran and Bushra pleas to suspend £190m sentences

What happened

The Islamabad High Court on Monday rejected the petitions of former prime minister Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi seeking the suspension of their sentences in the £190 million corruption case, observing that their main appeals were already fixed for hearing.

A two-member bench headed by Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar will take up the central appeals on 7 May. In view of that schedule, the court declared the suspension applications infructuous. During a hearing on 30 April, Justice Dogar had emphasised that the best course would be an early disposal of the main appeal.

Imran, imprisoned since 5 August 2023 for concealing details of Toshakhana gifts, is serving a 14-year sentence at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail in the £190m case, also known as the Al-Qadir Trust case. An accountability court in Islamabad sentenced Imran and Bushra to 14 and seven years in prison respectively on 17 January 2025, after which both challenged their convictions before the IHC.

The case against the couple

The case alleges that the couple obtained billions of rupees and land worth hundreds of kanals from Bahria Town Ltd to legalise Rs50 billion that had been identified and returned to the country by the United Kingdom during the PTI government. The allegations are the basis of the conviction under appeal; the merits have not been finally decided, and the main appeals remain pending.

Access and medical petitions

Separately, Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir heard a petition filed by Bushra’s daughter seeking access for a personal physician and permission for a family meeting. During the hearing, counsel Salman Akram Raja said an application had already been submitted to Adiala jail authorities both by courier and in person, and that Bushra had undergone surgery on the night between 16 and 17 April.

The court directed the jail superintendent to decide the application within two days and to pass a reasoned order, and summoned the superintendent in a personal capacity on 6 May. Justice Tahir observed that the court was forwarding the request to jail authorities for an appropriate decision, noting that such matters were also being discussed publicly. On 19 April, Bushra had approached the IHC seeking suspension of her sentence on medical grounds.

In a related proceeding, the IHC sought a response from jail authorities in a contempt matter concerning the failure to arrange a meeting between Imran and his lawyer. The court was told that jail officials had not yet signed the counsel’s power of attorney. The order stems from a March 2025 judgment that restored the incarcerated former premier’s visitation rights to twice a week. The court also issued notice to PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan in a petition seeking closure of Imran’s account on X, formerly Twitter.

Pressure from the family

Imran’s sister Aleema Khanum posted on X that the family had appealed to all party office holders, senior leaders, MNAs, MPAs and senators to gather at Adiala jail on Tuesday to press for access to the former premier. She alleged that Imran and Bushra were being held in conditions she described as solitary confinement, and called for Imran’s transfer to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for medical examination and treatment in the presence of specialists, his personal doctor and family.

The IHC has allowed Imran twice-a-week meetings, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with his family, lawyers and other associates. Dawn reported that, despite those orders, his meetings with family and party leaders have been largely restricted; PTI leaders skipped the visits for two consecutive weeks in April before going to Adiala on 30 April.

What is still uncertain

The rejection of the suspension pleas is a procedural decision and does not determine the outcome of the main appeals, which are listed for 7 May. The jail authorities had not publicly responded to the allegations about restrictions or solitary confinement, and the claims by Imran’s family are attributed to his sister. The status of the various access and contempt matters was adjourned to the following week.

Sources & reporting notes

This is a synthesis of published material, not eyewitness reporting. Sources were reviewed on 2026-05-04.

1. Primary source — Dawn: “IHC rejects Imran, Bushra's pleas seeking suspension of sentences in £190m graft case”4 May 2026 · Reports the IHC ruling, the 7 May appeal date, the background sentences and the parallel access, medical and contempt proceedings.