Al-Qadir Trust case: Bushra Bibi moves FCC for early hearing of sentence suspension plea

Bushra Bibi, the spouse of former Pakistani Prime Minister and PTI leader Imran Khan, has filed an urgent plea before the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) for an early hearing of her appeal seeking the suspension of her seven-year sentence in the Al-Qadir Trust case. The court sentenced both Bushra and her husband to prison in January 2025 for giving undue favors to property tycoon Malik Riaz to retrieve his laundered money from the UK.

The Supreme Court dismissed their initial appeal in May 2026, stating that their conviction appeal was already scheduled for hearing. The spouses then approached the Supreme Court, but their petition was rejected as maintainable. Bushra subsequently moved the FCC on July 30, arguing that she, being a woman with a serious medical condition, deserves the suspension of her sentence, as provided under the first proviso to Section 497(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

The 54-year-old woman, currently suffering from an ocular emergency, fears that the prolonged delay in her sentence suspension case could further impair her remaining vision. The application also cites her deteriorating condition, diagnosed with posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) in the right eye, which has led to a "black curtain" and further vision impairment.

The FCC is asked to expedite the matter and schedule the appeal for hearing in the week starting September 21 to ensure Bushra's health and eyesight are protected.