The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has rejected Bushra Bibi’s request to suspend her seven-year sentence in the Al-Qadir Trust case. The decision came on Wednesday as the wife of former prime minister Imran Khan sought relief on medical and legal grounds. However, the court will issue its detailed dismissal order later.
A two-member bench, led by Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan and Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, heard the matter. Earlier, the judges reserved their decision and directed Bushra’s lawyer, Salman Safdar, to submit written arguments. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja also attended the hearing.
Read more: PTI lawyers approach FCC for early hearing of Bushra Bibi’s appeal
Bushra’s appeal argued that her status as a woman and her serious medical condition supported suspending her sentence. In particular, her lawyer raised concerns about her worsening eye condition and the risk to her remaining eyesight. Meanwhile, the defence also criticised repeated adjournment requests by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
Furthermore, the petition alleged that Adiala jail authorities had failed to follow Islamabad High Court directions concerning access to legal counsel. It also claimed that Bushra and Imran faced solitary confinement and restrictions on contact with relatives, lawyers and party members. According to the appeal, these conditions harmed their fundamental rights and Bushra’s health.
The application also raised concerns about Bushra’s eye surgery on April 17, 2026. It claimed that her family and lawyers were not informed beforehand. Moreover, the petition alleged that she returned to jail without adequate medical supervision or nursing support after the procedure.
Read more: Bushra Bibi undergoes eye examination at Islamabad hospital
Separately, the defence challenged the evidence behind the conviction, alleging contradictions and insufficient proof of personal gain. The case concerns allegations that Imran and Bushra received undue benefits linked to property tycoon Malik Riaz. However, these claims remain part of the defence’s arguments and do not change the court’s latest decision.
Bushra received her seven-year sentence in January 2025 and remains imprisoned at Adiala jail in Rawalpindi. Previously, the Islamabad High Court rejected her sentence suspension request in May 2026. Subsequently, the Supreme Court office returned the petition as not maintainable, directing the matter towards the FCC under the relevant law. The FCC has now rejected her latest request for suspension.