ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday directed the advocate general Islamabad to arrange a meeting between former prime minister Imran Khan, his spouse Bushra Bibi and their legal counsel within seven days to facilitate the filing and prosecution of appeals against their conviction in the £190 million reference.

A division bench comprising IHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif resumed hearing appeals challenging the conviction awarded by an accountability court in the high-profile National Accountability Bureau (NAB) reference.

During the proceedings, Imran’s counsel Barrister Salman Safdar informed the court that despite repeated efforts he had been unable to meet his client, who remains incarcerated at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail. Cconsequently, he could neither obtain instructions nor secure a signed vakalatnama (power of attorney) for the appeals.

The counsel submitted that jail authorities had consistently denied him access to the former prime minister. He pointed out that NAB had recently filed an application contending that the petitions seeking suspension of sentence had become infructuous or were no longer maintainable after the main appeals against the conviction had been fixed for hearing.

Safdar argued that without instructions from his client, he was unable to effectively pursue the matter before the court.

Referring to a recent Supreme Court judgment, he maintained that the apex court had granted relief in a similar post-conviction case and that both Imran and Bushra were entitled to seek comparable relief.

The counsel further informed the bench that his last meeting with Bushra had taken place in December last year and that all subsequent access requests had been declined by prison authorities.

CJ Dogar questioned the absence of the advocate general, observing that the law officer was responsible for ensuring that legal counsel were granted access to incarcerated clients whenever required for court proceedings.

During the hearing, Safdar suggested that the prosecution had already changed its legal representatives, whereas he remained unable to obtain fresh instructions from his client.

“I have no instructions from Imran. He has the right to change his lawyer if he so desires,” the counsel submitted.

The chief justice recalled that the court had previously intervened to facilitate a meeting between the PTI founder and his lawyers, which had subsequently taken place.

Addressing the counsel, CJ Dogar asked whether he possessed a duly signed vakalatnama (power of attorney) authorising him to pursue the appeals.

Safdar replied that he did not have one and clarified that he had been engaged only in connection with the suspension of the sentence petitions.

“The jail authorities have denied me access in a manner that appears aimed at rendering these proceedings time-barred,” he contended.

Expressing concern over the situation, CJ Dogar remarked that denial of access to legal counsel was unfortunate and could impede the administration of justice.

The bench subsequently directed the advocate general Islamabad to ensure Imran and Bushra’s meetings with their counsel within seven days so that legal formalities, including execution of the vakalatnama (power of attorney) and obtaining instructions, could be completed.

The court deferred further proceedings until after the meetings take place and the necessary authorisation documents are signed.

Imran — imprisoned since Aug 5, 2023 — is serving a 14-year sentence at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail in the £190m case, also known as the Al-Qadir Trust case.

An accountability court in Islamabad had sentenced Imran and Bushra to 14 and seven years in prison, respectively, on Jan 17, 2025, in the case. Subsequently, both had challenged their convictions before the IHC.

The case alleges that the couple obtained billions of rupees and land worth hundreds of kanals from Bahria Town Ltd to legalise Rs50 billion identified and returned to the country by the United Kingdom during the PTI government.