The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has admitted appeals filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, challenging their convictions in the £190 million case, and scheduled the matter for hearing on November 18.
A two-member bench comprising IHC Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif will hear the appeals and has directed the parties to present their arguments against the convictions.
The development comes as the court also issued directions concerning meetings between the former prime minister, his wife and their legal representatives to facilitate preparations for the proceedings.
According to a two-page written order issued by the bench, lawyers Salman Safdar and Latif Khosa have been instructed to confine their discussions with Imran Khan strictly to legal matters and refrain from engaging in political discussions during their meetings.
The court observed that both lawyers were experienced legal professionals and should therefore limit their conversations with their client to issues directly related to the ongoing judicial proceedings.
The bench also directed the Advocate General to make arrangements for meetings between Imran Khan and his legal counsel, specifying that each meeting must last at least one hour.
During the hearing, Latif Khosa informed the court that he was unable to present arguments because he had not been given an opportunity to meet his client.
Salman Safdar, meanwhile, told the bench that although he had received instructions from Imran Khan regarding the appeal, the time provided for their meeting had been insufficient for adequate legal consultation.
The court’s directions are intended to ensure that the defence lawyers have sufficient access to their client to prepare and present their arguments.
In addition, the IHC instructed its office to complete the preparation of paper books containing the relevant case records and documents within seven days.
The appeals challenge the convictions of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi in the £190 million case, with the court now set to examine the arguments presented by their legal teams.
The next hearing is scheduled for November 18, when the two-member bench will take up the appeals for further proceedings.