IHC stops final verdict in £190m case against PTI founder and Bushra Bibi

The Islamabad High Court has ordered the trial court from delivering its final verdict regarding the £190 million case involving the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and his wife, Bushra Bibi, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Wednesday.

This decision came during a hearing on the couple’s petitions for acquittal, held before Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb.

During the proceedings, the Islamabad High Court addressed the objections raised by the Registrar’s Office regarding the acquittal requests.

The court allowed the hearing to proceed, with the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi seeking to be cleared of all charges related to the Al Qadir University Trust's £190 million reference.

Their legal team also requested the court to halt the trial proceedings in the accountability court until the Islamabad High Court's final decision.

In response to the defense’s plea, the Islamabad High Court instructed the trial court to complete the trial process but refrained it from issuing a final judgment.

This ruling effectively pauses the conclusion of the trial until further notice, ensuring that the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi's appeal for acquittal can be properly assessed before any final decision is made.

Additionally, the High Court issued a notice to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), seeking its response to the acquittal petitions. The next hearing in this case has been scheduled for September 26, during which further arguments will be heard.

Reporter: Ehtshan Kiyani