Constitutional Court Dismisses Bushra Bibi’s Suspension Petition
Two-member bench headed by Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan declares former first lady's application non-maintainable in £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case.
ISLAMABAD, October 14, 2026: The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) on Wednesday dismissed former first lady Bushra Bibi’s petition seeking suspension of her seven-year prison sentence in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case, declaring the application non-maintainable.
A two-member bench headed by Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan, comprising Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, announced the decision following preliminary arguments presented by Bushra Bibi’s counsel.
The court issued its dismissal order after earlier indicating that a decision would be announced upon consideration of the petitioner’s submissions.
During the proceedings, senior lawyer Barrister Salman Safdar appeared on behalf of Bushra Bibi, while Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja was also present in the courtroom.
Arguments Presented Before the Court
During the hearing, Salman Safdar argued that courts had traditionally adopted a compassionate approach in cases involving female prisoners.
He submitted that Bushra Bibi was entitled to consideration for suspension of her sentence, particularly in view of her medical circumstances and the prolonged pendency of her legal proceedings.
The defence also questioned the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) conduct, alleging that repeated requests for adjournments had delayed the proceedings.
Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan directed the counsel to refrain from discussing the merits of the underlying case, observing that the matter before the bench concerned suspension of the sentence rather than the conviction itself.
Justice Ali Baqar Najafi also questioned how frequently the principal appeals had been fixed for hearing.
After hearing the preliminary arguments, the bench directed counsel to submit written points and indicated that an order would follow.
The court subsequently dismissed Bushra Bibi’s application as non-maintainable.
Background of the £190 Million Case
On January 17, 2025, an accountability court sentenced former prime minister Imran Khan to 14 years and Bushra Bibi to seven years in prison in the Al-Qadir Trust case.
The proceedings concerned allegations surrounding the handling of funds recovered from the United Kingdom and transactions involving the Al-Qadir Trust.
Both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi challenged their convictions before the Islamabad High Court.
In May 2026, the Islamabad High Court declined to suspend their sentences, observing that their principal appeals had already been scheduled for hearing.
Their subsequent petitions before the Supreme Court were returned by the court’s office over jurisdictional objections, with the Federal Constitutional Court identified as the appropriate forum under the applicable accountability legislation.
Bushra Bibi later approached the FCC, seeking suspension of her sentence on legal and medical grounds.
Her legal team also requested an expedited hearing, citing concerns regarding her eyesight following medical treatment during imprisonment.
Legal Position Following the Decision
Wednesday’s ruling concerns the maintainability of Bushra Bibi’s application for suspension of sentence.
It does not constitute a fresh determination of the merits of the underlying Al-Qadir Trust conviction.
The detailed reasoning behind the Federal Constitutional Court’s dismissal was not immediately available in the initial reports of the decision.
Meanwhile, the principal appeals challenging the convictions remain a separate matter before the Islamabad High Court, which adjourned proceedings on October 5 without announcing a fresh hearing date.
The latest development leaves Bushra Bibi without relief from the Federal Constitutional Court on this particular application, while further legal proceedings remain subject to the relevant courts’ orders.
