Registrar’s Statement in £190 Million Case: Imran Khan’s Appeal Unlikely to Be Heard in 2025

Islamabad: A major development has emerged in the £190 million case involving former Prime Minister Imran Khan and former First Lady Bushra Bibi. According to a report submitted by the Registrar’s Office to the bench of the Acting Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court, it is unlikely that Imran Khan’s appeal will be scheduled for hearing in 2025.
The report highlights that appeals are scheduled based on their filing dates and overall case backlog. The oldest pending death penalty appeal dates back to 2017. Currently, a total of 279 appeals against convictions are pending, including 63 death penalty appeals, 73 life imprisonment appeals, 88 appeals for sentences longer than seven years, and 55 appeals for seven-year sentences.
The Registrar’s report states that Imran Khan’s appeal is still at the “motion stage” and will first require the preparation of paper books before it can be scheduled. Under the directions of the National Judicial Policy Making Committee, appeals are fixed in line with a prioritization policy.
Imran Khan’s appeal against his 14-year sentence was filed on January 31, 2025, and given the current caseload and judicial policy, the Registrar’s Office has indicated that it is unlikely to be taken up within the year.