Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan has filed an application before the Islamabad High Court seeking suspension of his sentence in the Toshakhana-2 case and release on bail. The Imran Khan bail plea has been moved on medical and humanitarian grounds.
The petition was submitted through senior advocates Barrister Salman Safdar and Salman Akram Raja. It requests the court to suspend the sentence awarded to the 73-year-old PTI founder, arguing that his deteriorating health and the legal merits of the case justify immediate relief. The Imran Khan bail plea stresses that continued incarceration poses serious risks to his health.
In December last year, a special court sentenced Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years’ imprisonment each in the Toshakhana-2 case. The case relates to the alleged purchase of luxury state gifts at a significantly reduced price and their subsequent sale. Both were also fined by the court.
Alongside this application, a separate plea has been filed seeking an early hearing in the Al-Qadir Trust case, also known as the £190 million reference. The defence team has requested urgent consideration of the plea seeking suspension of sentence in that matter as well.
According to the application, Imran Khan is suffering from a serious medical condition affecting his right eye. The Imran Khan bail plea states that a blood clot has caused severe damage, leaving him with only 15 percent vision. His lawyers informed the court that the condition surfaced during recent proceedings before the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
The petition further states that the medical issue is critical in nature and cannot be adequately treated within jail facilities. It argues that continued detention without proper treatment could result in permanent damage.
The Imran Khan bail plea also alleges that his conviction forms part of a broader campaign of political victimisation. The application claims that since his removal from office, Imran Khan and his spouse have faced multiple cases across various forums, reflecting what it describes as a consistent pattern of targeted legal action.
It further accuses investigative institutions, including the National Accountability Bureau, Federal Investigation Agency, and the Election Commission of Pakistan, of being used for political purposes. The plea claims that these agencies have repeatedly pursued cases to settle political scores.
The Toshakhana-2 case originated from an NAB investigation involving the alleged acquisition of a Bulgari jewellery set at a nominal price. NAB arrested Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi in July 2024, after which they remained in custody at Adiala Jail for 37 days.
Following completion of the investigation, NAB filed a reference before an accountability court in August. After the Supreme Court restored amendments to the NAB law, the case was transferred to the FIA Anti-Corruption Court. The trial was conducted through 80 hearings held inside the jail.
Special Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand later convicted the couple. Under the verdict, Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were sentenced to 10 years each under sections 34 and 409 of the Pakistan Penal Code, along with an additional seven years under section 5 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947. A total fine of Rs16.4 million was also imposed.
The judgement noted that the court considered Imran Khan’s age and Bushra Bibi’s status as a woman while awarding the sentence. The Imran Khan bail plea is now pending before the Islamabad High Court, with a decision awaited on suspension of sentence and bail.
