The Federal Constitutional Court has rejected Bushra Bibi’s plea seeking suspension of her sentence in the £190 million case. The verdict was announced by a bench headed by Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan. Justice Ali Baqar Najafi was the other member of the bench.
Barrister Salman Safdar represented Bushra Bibi during the hearing. He criticised the conduct of the National Accountability Bureau in the case, according to reports. He argued that courts had traditionally shown leniency in such matters.
Background of the case
The case relates to a £190 million settlement and the Al-Qadir Trust. Bushra Bibi and her husband, former prime minister Imran Khan, were convicted in the case. Both have denied any wrongdoing. They say the case was built on weak evidence.
The NAB has maintained that the prosecution followed the law. Officials of the bureau said all legal requirements were met during the trial. The defence has challenged the conviction on several grounds.
What comes next
The defence team may now approach other legal forums for relief. Legal experts say further appeals are possible under the law. The final outcome will depend on the higher courts.
The verdict adds to the legal challenges facing the former first lady. Her party says the cases are politically driven. The government denies this and says the courts act independently. It says every citizen must face the law equally. The case has drawn wide attention in political and legal circles. Lawyers say the next hearing will be closely watched. Both sides are preparing fresh legal arguments.
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