ISLAMABAD: Bushra Bibi, wife of former prime minister Imran Khan, has approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) requesting the suspension of her sentence in the £190 million corruption case, citing medical concerns following a recent eye surgery.
In her petition filed on Saturday through lawyers Salman Safdar and Khalid Yousaf Chaudhry, she urged the court to urgently hear and decide her plea, stating that her health condition requires immediate judicial consideration.
Bushra Bibi is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence in the £190 million case, which involves allegations of facilitating undue benefits to property tycoon Malik Riaz in connection with the repatriation of funds from the United Kingdom. Her appeal against the conviction is already pending before the IHC.
She has also been sentenced to 17 years in prison in the Toshakhana 2 case, which relates to the purchase of a jewellery set gifted to Imran Khan by the Saudi crown prince during his 2021 visit.
In her latest application, the petitioner claimed she recently underwent eye surgery at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital while in custody at Adiala Jail. The plea alleged that neither her legal team nor her family was informed in advance of the procedure.
It further stated that her daughters were only informed of the surgery during a jail visit on April 17, when they found her with bandaged eyes and impaired vision. The petition also accused prison authorities of failing to provide medical records, including diagnosis reports, surgical details, and post-operative care documentation.
The application raised concerns over lack of transparency, claiming the procedure was conducted without prior consent or legal consultation. It also alleged that her access to lawyers and family members was restricted despite court directives, describing the situation as part of a broader pattern of concealment regarding her health.
Bushra Bibi’s legal team argued that her condition has worsened due to inadequate medical care in custody and that she now requires continuous supervision. They contended that her continued detention after surgery amounts to inhumane treatment and violates her fundamental rights.
The petition further cited legal precedents, arguing that serious medical issues and insufficient healthcare in prison justify suspension of sentence on humanitarian grounds, particularly as her appeal has been pending for over a year.
The court has been requested to summon jail officials and hospital authorities, obtain complete medical records, and order her transfer to a specialised medical facility for further treatment.
According to jail authorities, Bushra Bibi was recently shifted back to Adiala Jail after undergoing eye surgery. Officials said she had complained of vision problems, and medical examinations revealed retinal detachment in her right eye, prompting doctors to recommend surgery.
Earlier, it was also reported that Imran Khan has been receiving treatment for an eye-related medical condition.