Former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, have approached the Supreme Court by filing a chamber appeal against the registrar’s decision to return their petitions challenging the Islamabad High Court’s refusal to suspend their sentences in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case.

The appeal, submitted through their counsel, Barrister Salman Safdar, under the Supreme Court Rules, 2025, argues that the registrar exceeded administrative authority by deciding the maintainability of the petitions. According to the legal team, the registrar’s role is limited to reviewing procedural compliance, while questions involving constitutional or legal interpretation can only be determined by the Supreme Court through judicial proceedings.

The petition further contends that the registrar failed to properly consider constitutional provisions and the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO). The defence maintains that although the law provides for appeals against certain high court decisions, it does not explicitly address appeals relating to orders refusing suspension of sentences, making the issue one that requires judicial interpretation rather than an administrative ruling.

Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi are seeking the restoration of their petitions so the apex court can hear arguments on the suspension of their sentences. The latest legal move marks another significant development in the high-profile £190 million case, which continues to generate political and legal debate across Pakistan.