During Tuesday’s hearing of the £190 million reference case against PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, the court voiced frustration over the absence of their defense lawyer. The session, held at Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, faced delays when Bushra Bibi’s lawyer, Khawaja Haris, failed to appear due to illness, prompting Judge Nasir Javed Rana’s displeasure.
Judge Rana stressed that further delays were unacceptable and set Wednesday as the final opportunity for the defense to cross-examine witnesses. He emphasized that, although the High Court had stayed the pronouncement of the verdict, the trial itself was not suspended. As a result, the judge insisted that proceedings must continue without interruption.
During the hearing, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecution team raised objections, highlighting that, despite the case involving twelve defense lawyers, only two—Ali Zafar and Intizar Panjotha—were present in court. They argued that such absences were contributing to unnecessary delays in the trial.
Despite these concerns, Judge Rana decided to adjourn the proceedings, granting the defense one final chance to cross-examine the witnesses the following day. He reiterated that any further delay would not be tolerated, warning that Wednesday’s session would be the last opportunity for the defense to fulfill its obligations.
The £190 million reference case revolves around corruption allegations and has garnered significant attention due to the involvement of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, further intensifying the scrutiny surrounding the trial.
