ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued notices to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), requesting their responses by February 29 concerning the pleas of incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi challenging their sentences in cipher and Toshakhana cases.
Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb, comprising the IHC’s two-member division bench, conducted the hearing on Khan and Qureshi’s pleas to overturn their 10-year sentences in the cipher case. Objections to an appeal submitted by the disqualified prime minister were also addressed.
Notices have been issued for Thursday over Khan and Bushra’s pleas against their 14-year imprisonment in the Toshakhana case. During the hearing, PTI counsel Barrister Ali Zafar highlighted unusual occurrences during the trial, and the chief justice advised pointing out disagreements during the arguments.
In the previous hearing, a bench was also formed to consider Imran Khan’s bail application in the £190 million corruption case. Last month, Khan and Qureshi were sentenced to 10 years each in the cipher case under the Official Secrets Act 2023.
The case involved allegations that Khan disclosed the contents of a secret cable sent by the ambassador in Washington. Additionally, the former premier and his spouse were sentenced to 14 years in prison by an accountability court for corrupt practices related to selling gifts received as prime minister.
