Court adjourns hearing of Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi in £190 m reference till Thursday

 An accountability court Wednesday adjourned the hearing of the £190 million reference against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi until tomorrow (Thursday).

The accountability court held proceedings on the £190 million reference case at Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi. Judge Nasir Javed Rana presided over the court. 

The PTI founder Imran Khan was presented in court, while his wife Bushra Bibi traveled from Peshawar to Adiala Jail for the hearing.

Despite 33 hearings, cross-examination of the investigating officer, Mian Umar Nadeem, remains incomplete.

During the proceedings, Usman Gul, defense counsel for Bushra Bibi, questioned the investigating officer extensively.

However, NAB prosecutor Amjad Pervez raised objections, deeming many of Gul’s inquiries irrelevant and time-wasting, citing judicial instructions against unnecessary questioning.

Pervez noted that some inquiries were irrelevant to the case, including questions about the number of pages marked “confidential” across the ten volumes of evidence.

“All marked confidential pages are already on record,” he clarified, explaining that such questions waste court time and detract from relevant issues. He further emphasized that the investigating officer is an official witness, not an eyewitness, stressing the need to avoid irrelevant questioning.

The court upheld the prosecution’s objection, instructing defense lawyers to avoid irrelevant questions.

In response, defense attorneys requested to appeal the court’s ruling in the Islamabad High Court.

Pervez maintained that while the defense has the right to challenge court decisions, they cannot derail the trial's orderly process.

The court adjourned the session to resume the next day, providing both parties additional time to prepare for the high-profile proceedings.

Meanwhile, Aleema Khan, the sister of PTI founder Imran Khan expressed her outrage over the treatment her brother has endured during his detention.

Addressing the media after she met with Imran Khan in Adiala jail, she firmly stated that what has happened to Khan is a blatant violation of human rights.

Khan was kept in a small cell and was denied access to his family and legal counsel for three weeks, which Aleema highlighted as a significant infringement on his rights.

She described the quality of food provided to him as poor, asserting that such treatment is more befitting of death row prisoners than a global leader like her brother.

Aleema Khan remarked, “There can be enemies, but there should be no treachery.”

She revealed that Imran Khan plans to challenge the violations of his rights in the Supreme Court, intending to include both jail superintendents as parties in the case.

Reiterating her brother’s steadfastness, she mentioned that he refuses to negotiate or make deals under duress.

Imran Khan, she said, is waging a struggle for the rule of law and true freedom. She conveyed his message to the nation: “I will endure military courts and oppression for your sake, but I will not bow down.”

Aleema Khan said that Imran Khan urged the public to stand up for their rights, declaring, “This is the time to assert your rights.”

PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat has revealed details of his meeting with party founder Imran Khan, stating that Khan expressed indifference to the establishment of military courts.

Speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail, Marwat announced plans to form a new protest committee, affirming his commitment to be a part of it.

During the conversation, Marwat informed Imran Khan that the current protests were misguided and criticized the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for not developing an effective protest strategy.

He mentioned that Imran Khan has made several decisions regarding the situation, which will be communicated by PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja.

When questioned about Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Marwat indicated that discussions had arisen regarding the impact of Rehman on the establishment of military courts, noting that one of their colleagues attributed the absence of military courts to Maulana Fazlur Rehman's influence.

Imran Khan maintained that the formation of military courts would not affect him.

As the winter season approaches, Imran emphasized the need to devise a strategy for future protests.

Marwat assured the captain that he would develop a plan that ensures continuity in leadership during demonstrations, stating, “If one leader is caught, another will lead.”

 PTI leader Shoaib Shaheen said that PTI founder Imran Khan expressed his intention to take the matter of human rights violations to the Supreme Court.

He recounted his harrowing experience during his first twenty days in detention, where he was confined to a small room and permitted to go in open space only for one hour each day.

Khan also highlighted the fact that he was denied access to his family and legal counsel during this period.

Drawing comparisons with other political leaders, Imran Khan noted that former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif, as well as Asif Ali Zardari, had significantly more privileges in custody, including visits from dozens of associates, access to home-cooked meals, and accommodations in air-conditioned rooms.

Khan didn't hold back in his criticism of Justice Qazi Faez Isa, accusing him of undermining the electoral process by supporting "fraudulent elections" and passing amendments that benefitted him directly. He alleged that Isa owns three properties in London and suggested that his judicial decisions were influenced more by bureaucracy than by the principles of justice.

Furthermore, Khan highlighted the extravagant travel habits of past leaders, pointing out that Nawaz Sharif took 22 foreign trips while in office, and Zardari visited Dubai 51 times, even as the country struggled under the burden of IMF debt.

He asserted that neither Nawaz Sharif nor Zardari could make a statement against Israel due to their Western affiliations and vested interests.

Describing Justice Qazi Faez Isa as the "worst Chief Justice in history," Khan accused him of prioritizing personal benefits over the judiciary's integrity. He firmly rejected rumors of any deals, asserting that he is not afraid of military courts and is committed to fighting for true freedom.

Imran Khan reiterated his stance that he is engaged in a jihad for real freedom, urging his supporters to remain steadfast in the face of adversity.