IHC orders Bushra’s medical tests from private lab
Former first lady Bushra Bibi. PHOTO: FILE
Reports surfacing about a deterioration in the health of party founder Imran Khan’s spouse, Bushra Bibi, on Wednesday echoed in the National Assembly, with the government assuring the opposition of affording her the best medical treatment available in the country.
Separately, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) directed the authorities concerned for the medical examination of Bushra Bibi from a private lab in Islamabad and submitted the report of the examination in the court before the next date of hearing.
Bushra Bibi is currently incarcerated in the couple’s Banigala residence, which was declared a sub-jail for her, after their conviction and sentencing in the Toshakhana case.
Her husband Imran Khan and several PTI leaders had claimed that the former first lady had been slowly poisoned in the sub-jail.
Responding to a point of order raised by Leader of the Opposition Omar Ayub about her health, Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar informed the National Assembly that on the request of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership the medical tests of Bushra Bibi were conducted in one of the best private hospitals of Islamabad.
He said that due to objections raised by the PTI leadership regarding government hospitals, Bushra Bibi’s tests were got conducted at a private hospital.
He said there was no reason for referring Bushra Bibi to another hospital of PTI’s choice as all her tests were clear. He regretted that the PTI leadership had exaggerated her health issue.
Meanwhile, hearing a petition filed for the medical examination of Bibi, wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, over poisoning allegations, IHC Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb summoned the advocate general of Islamabad raised the question as to why the court order was not implemented.
State Counsel Abdul Rehman appeared in the court and apologized for the absence of the advocate general. The court adjourned further proceedings on the matter with direction for medical examination of Bibi submission of the report till Monday.
Separately, an IHC bench, led by Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and including Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri heard the bail application of the PTI founder in the £190 million reference, filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
Latif Khosa, the lawyer for the petitioner, told the court that Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) had frozen the money, adding that a total of £171 million was remitted to Pakistan after tax deductions, with the condition that the Pakistani cabinet would give approval for the refund.
He explained that Shehzad Akbar, the former adviser to the then prime minister, placed a note before the cabinet, which was approved. He said that the former prime minister approved the return of the money, and then it was transferred to the Supreme Court account.
Khosa told the court that former prime minister Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were not the beneficiaries in the matter. He added that the amount that was sent to the Supreme Court account was returned to the government of Pakistan on November 23, 2023.
Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri inquired how the money came into the account of the Supreme Court, whether the money was obtained through crime, and why it was frozen in Britain. The lawyer replied that it was suspicious money, but was cleared later.
Khosa further explained that 458 kanals of land for the Al-Qadir University in Suhawa was first transferred to Zulfi Bukhari and then to a trust, in which Imran and Bibi were the trustees. He told the court that students were studying at the university. The hearing was put off till April 29.
Also, Islamabad’s District and Sessions Judge Shahrukh Arjamand heard the appeals against the conviction of Imran and Bibi in the Iddat Nikah case. During the hearing, the lawyer for Khawar Maneka, Bibi’s ex-husband, argued on the case. He will continue arguments on the next hearing on April 30.