The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ordered a one-hour jail meeting between former prime minister Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, and their lawyers at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, in the £190 million case.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif issued the order on Tuesday while hearing appeals filed by the couple against their convictions in the case, also known as the Al-Qadir Trust case.

What the court ordered

The court directed that lawyers Sardar Latif Khosa and Barrister Salman Safdar be allowed to meet their clients for one hour so that consultations on the legal matters could be completed before arguments begin. The Islamabad advocate general assured the court that the meetings would be arranged at the jail.

During the hearing, Khosa told the court that he had repeatedly sought a meeting with Khan but had not been allowed to meet him. The chief justice asked how long he wanted the meeting to last, and Khosa requested at least an hour, after which the court directed the advocate general to arrange it.

Barrister Salman Safdar also sought a further meeting, saying his previous meeting with Khan had provided instructions but was not sufficient. He told the court he had met Khan after seven months and Bushra Bibi after eleven months.

The bench directed the lawyers to begin arguments on the appeals at the next hearing and adjourned the case for ten days. It also discussed the preparation of paper books for the appeals, with Safdar saying the documents had not yet been provided to the defence, making it difficult to prepare arguments.

Health concerns raised in court

Safdar told the court that Khan had said his eyesight had improved but his blood pressure remained uncontrolled, at times rising above 190, creating a serious risk of a brain haemorrhage. He asked the court to summon the complete medical reports from Adiala Jail.

He also drew the court's attention to Bushra Bibi's health, saying she had been wearing dark glasses and that her eyesight had deteriorated. According to Safdar, jail authorities had told him her next operation was scheduled for 15 November. He said he did not know who was treating her or where she was receiving treatment, and requested a medical board to examine her, saying her treatment could not be properly carried out in jail.

The advocate general told the court that Bushra Bibi was receiving medical treatment in jail and that her medical board had visited the jail to examine her on 8 November. The chief justice observed that matters relating to health were already pending before the Federal Constitutional Court, while Safdar maintained that no matter concerning Bushra Bibi was pending there.

The £190m case

An accountability court in Islamabad had earlier sentenced Khan to 14 years in prison with a fine of Rs1 million, while Bushra Bibi was awarded seven years in prison along with a fine of Rs500,000, in the £190 million case.

The case, also known as the Al-Qadir Trust case, involves allegations that Khan and others in 2019 adjusted Rs50 billion, amounting to £190 million at the time, sent by Britain's National Crime Agency to the Pakistani government during his tenure as prime minister.

Restricted access to the couple

Access to Khan and Bushra Bibi at Adiala Jail has remained restricted, with meetings between them and their lawyers becoming increasingly infrequent. Authorities have denied weekly meetings between Khan and his family and legal team since December 2025.

The court's order for a full one-hour consultation is therefore significant for the defence, which must prepare arguments in the appeals after months of limited access to its clients.

Frequently asked questions

What did the Islamabad High Court order?
The court ordered Adiala Jail to arrange a one-hour meeting between Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi and their lawyers, Sardar Latif Khosa and Barrister Salman Safdar, so they can prepare for arguments in the £190m appeals case.

When will arguments in the appeals begin?
The court directed the lawyers to begin arguments at the next hearing and adjourned the case for ten days.

What sentences are Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi appealing?
An accountability court sentenced Khan to 14 years in prison and Bushra Bibi to seven years in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case.

Sources: Islamabad Post; Shafaqna Pakistan (Geo News).