ISLAMABAD: Counsel for former prime minister Imran Khan on Thursday urged the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to consider his client’s release on hum­anitarian and compassionate grounds, citing prolonged solitary confinement and an eye infection.

Defence counsel Salman Safdar made the request as the IHC took up appeals filed by Imran and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, against their conviction in the £190 million corruption reference.

During the hearing, Mr Safdar requested the court to suspend the sentence, arguing that the case had remained pending for over 16 months and had already undergone 17 hearings in the appeal.

Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar questioned whether the petitioner was willing to settle the matter conclusively through a final decision on the appeal. He observed that while suspension of the sentence could be granted without final relief, the appeal itself should be concluded expeditiously.

Mr Safdar maintained that despite the passage of over a year, the defence had not received any relief. He highlighted that both Mr Khan and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, were facing issues related to solitary confinement.

He further contended that the IHC could verify prison conditions through the inspector general of prisons and consider relief on humanitarian grounds.However, Justice Dogar emphasised that the best course would be the early disposal of the main appeal, assuring the defence that the court was mindful of the urgency and would decide the matter promptly.

During the proceedings, the bench was informed about difficulties in signing a formal power of attorney and accessing medical reports. Addressing senior lawyer Latif Khosa, Justice Dogar questioned how representation was being made without proper documentation. Mr Safdar responded that he was arguing under a power of attorney and that Mr Khosa had earlier represented Mr Khan in the case. He reiterated his request for suspension of the sentence as interim relief.

On the other hand, NAB Senior Prosecutor Rafay Maqsood argued that once the appeals were fixed for hearing, a separate plea for suspension of sentence could not be entertained.

In a lighter moment, the IHC chief justice remarked that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister often complained about not receiving a response to his greetings. “Walaikum Assalam,” he added, asking the counsel to convey this to CM Sohail Afridi.

The hearing was subsequently adjourned. Mr Khan — imprisoned since August 5, 2023, for concealing details of Toshakhana gifts — is serving a 14-year sentence at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail in the £190 million case.

An accountability court in Islamabad had sentenced Mr Khan and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, to 14 and 7 years in prison, respectively, on January 17, 2025. Subsequently, both 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 UK during the PTI government.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2026