• Justice Dogar says denial of access to legal counsel unfortunate, can impede justice
• Counsel says prison authorities barred him from meeting ex-PM, Bushra Bibi despite repeated attempts
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday directed the Islamabad advocate general 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.
An IHC division bench comprising Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif resumed hearing appeals challenging the conviction awarded by an accountability court in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) case.
During the proceedings, Imran Khan’s counsel Barrister Salman Safdar informed the court that despite repeated efforts, he had been unable to meet his client at the Adiala jail. Consequently, he could neither obtain instructions nor secure a signed power of attorney for the appeals.
The counsel said 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. He argued that without instructions from his client, he was unable to effectively pursue the matter before the court.
Referring to a recent Supreme Court judgement, 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 informed the bench that his last meeting with Bushra Bibi had taken place in December 2025 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 was granted access to incarcerated clients whenever required for court proceedings. During the hearing, Salman 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 power of attorney authorising him to pursue the appeals. The lawyer 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 to ensure Imran and Bushra’s meetings with their counsel within seven days so that legal formalities, including execution of the power of attorney and obtaining instructions, could be completed.
The court deferred further proceedings until after the meetings took place and the necessary authorisation documents were signed.
Imran Khan — imprisoned since Aug 5, 2023 — is serving a 14-year sentence in the Adiala jail in the £190m corruption case.
Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2026