Irked over the failure of the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) prosecution team to show up in connection with the hearing of 190 million Pounds case (Al-Qadir Trust case), involving former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday slapped a fine of Rs100,000 on the bureau.
Chief Justice Sarfaraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif heard the petitions filed by the couple for the suspension of their sentences in the case.
Barrister Salman Safdar, counsel for Imran and Bushra, who appeared in the court, requested the bench to decide the petitions before Eidul Fitr.
Speaking on the occasion, Barrister Safdar said that nine times, the NAB prosecutor had failed to turn up in the court. “It is after a great difficulty that the case has been fixed for the hearing. Where is the NAB’s prosecutor?” he questioned.
The former prime minister had been arrested in the Al-Qadir Trust case on May 9. “Had the NAB not arrested the PTI founder, May 9 would not have happened,” the lawyer said, adding that the anti-corruption watchdog was responsible for the May 9 incidents of violence.
He reminded the chief justice that two years ago, he had granted bail to a convict in a murder case because he had lost his eyesight. “Imran has also an issue with his eyesight,” Barrister Safdar said.
Speaking on the occasion, the NAB prosecutor, who later reached the court, said that he was present. “We have filed a miscellaneous application in which we have given reasons why the couple’s plea, seeking suspension of sentences is inadmissible for the hearing,” he informed.
