Imran and Bushra Appeals Fixed for November 10
Imran and Bushra appeals against their convictions in the £190 million case will be heard by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on November 10.
The IHC fixed the hearing on Wednesday, according to the cause list issued by the Registrar’s Office. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif will hear the appeals.
The court had earlier sought arguments from counsel for the convicts on their appeals challenging the sentences. At the previous hearing, the court adjourned the proceedings without taking up the matter after a request by Imran’s counsel, Barrister Salman Safdar.
Imran and Bushra appeals: what the case is about
In January 2025, an Islamabad accountability court sentenced Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan to 14 years in prison and his wife Bushra Bibi to seven years. The sentences came in the reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
The £190 million case centres on allegations linked to the Al-Qadir Trust, a welfare organisation established in 2018. The trust runs a university outside Islamabad. Prosecutors accuse it of being used as a front to receive land worth millions of dollars from a real estate tycoon.
According to the government, the donations were made in exchange for the former premier’s administration using repatriated funds from the United Kingdom to pay fines on behalf of the businessman, instead of depositing the amount into the national exchequer. Imran has denied the allegations. He maintains that neither he nor his wife derived any financial benefit from the trust or the related transactions.
The November 10 hearing matters because it will test those convictions directly. The bench has already asked the convicts’ counsel to present arguments, so the next date is set up as a substantive hearing rather than a routine adjournment.
Bushra Bibi’s legal position has also been in the news separately. The Federal Constitutional Court recently rejected a plea seeking suspension of her sentence, as covered in Bushra Bibi Sentence Suspension Plea Rejected. That decision left the IHC appeals as the main route for challenging the sentences.
What to watch on November 10
Three questions will shape the hearing. First, whether the convicts’ counsel opens full arguments or seeks more time. Second, whether NAB responds on the merits of the convictions or asks for an adjournment of its own. Third, whether the bench gives a short date for further arguments or reserves its decision.
The composition of the bench adds weight to the hearing. The chief justice himself will sit on the division bench with Justice Asif, which signals that the court treats the appeals as a significant matter.
For PTI supporters, the appeals carry political weight beyond the courtroom. Imran remains the party’s founder and its central figure, and the outcome of the £190 million case affects his legal standing. For the government, the case remains a key accountability reference, and prosecutors will defend the trial court’s verdict.
The IHC has handled several high-profile matters in recent weeks, including notices on an appeal against the ban on sheesha cafes in the capital, covered in IHC Seeks Reply on Shisha Cafe Ban Appeal. The November 10 date now joins a busy court calendar.
What happens next
The appeals come up for hearing on November 10 before the Dogar-Asif bench. If arguments begin, the court may fix further dates for NAB’s response and for replies by the convicts’ counsel.
If either side seeks time, the court will decide whether to grant it or press ahead. Until the bench rules, the January 2025 sentences stand, and both Imran and Bushra remain convicted in the reference.
Frequently asked questions
When will the IHC hear the appeals?
The Islamabad High Court will hear the appeals on November 10, according to the cause list issued by the Registrar’s Office.
Which judges will hear the appeals?
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif will hear the appeals.
What sentences did Imran and Bushra receive?
In January 2025, an accountability court sentenced Imran Khan to 14 years and Bushra Bibi to seven years in prison in the £190 million reference.
What is the £190 million case about?
The case centres on allegations linked to the Al-Qadir Trust, which prosecutors say was used as a front to receive land from a real estate tycoon in exchange for official favours.
Why was the previous hearing adjourned?
The court adjourned the previous hearing without taking up the matter after a request by Imran’s counsel, Barrister Salman Safdar.
