Bushra Bibi was moved back to Adiala jail on Friday after a crucial eye surgery in Rawalpindi, as concerns over her health continue to ripple through political circles. According to jail officials, ophthalmologists diagnosed retinal detachment, a condition which requires immediate intervention. She was shifted to a private hospital on Thursday evening, where she underwent pre-operative tests and subsequently consented to surgery. The procedure was carried out by Professor Dr Nadeem Qureshi along with a medical panel, after which she was discharged following an overnight stay and returned to custody.
Concerns around her condition had already been mounting after a document dated March 28 surfaced online, indicating that a doctor at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences had examined her and noted a “history of blurring of vision and a black spot in the right eye for the past 11 days”.
Today’s application, filed through Barrister Salman Safdar, also seeks court directions for access to Bushra Bibi by her lawyers and family members, citing medical concerns following her eye surgery.
It states that the petitioner, a 54-year-old woman and a member of a vulnerable section of society, has been incarcerated for more than a year following her conviction in the Al-Qadir Trust case. It adds that she has already filed an appeal against her conviction and sentence, along with an application for suspension of sentence under Section 426 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Read: Bushra Bibi undergoes eye surgery, returns to Adiala after overnight hospital stay: jail authorities
The plea notes that notices on the suspension application were issued by the court on May 15, 2025, but the matter has since faced “inordinate, continuous and unexplained delay”. It further alleges repeated adjournments and what it describes as obstructive conduct by the National Accountability Bureau, which it says has caused prejudice to the petitioner and defeated the purpose of interim relief.
According to the application, Bushra Bibi recently underwent eye surgery at Al Shifa Eye Hospital in Rawalpindi. It claims that no family member was informed before the procedure, arguing that it is legally necessary to notify both counsel and family in such circumstances.
The plea states that failure to provide such information could pose risks to her life and well-being. It adds that the family was later informed and met her in jail, where she was observed wearing dark glasses during the meeting.
It further states that, according to the family, her medical condition appears to be serious, while no details have so far been provided by doctors or jail authorities.
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The application also notes that Bushra Bibi is serving a seven-year sentence, which it describes as comparatively less severe, and alleges that jail authorities did not allow access to her despite a court order.
Citing her deteriorating medical condition, continued denial of access, and principles governing matters relating to liberty, the plea requests the court to hear and decide the suspension of sentence application on priority and on merits in the interest of justice and fair play.
Background
Imran and Bushra Bibi are facing a £190 million graft case linked to the Al-Qadir Trust, a welfare organisation they established in 2018. The trust, which runs a university outside Islamabad focused on spirituality and Islamic teachings, is accused of being used as a front to receive land worth millions of dollars from a real estate tycoon.
The government claims the donations were in exchange for Imran’s administration using repatriated UK funds to pay fines against the businessman, instead of depositing the money into Pakistan’s treasury.
Imran has denied any wrongdoing, insisting neither he nor his wife gained financially from the trust or related transactions. In his written response to the IHC, he claimed the case is politically motivated, alleging a corruption reference against Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz led to a fabricated case against Bushra Bibi.
He challenged the prosecution’s evidence, highlighted inconsistencies in witness statements, and accused the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) of destroying key records related to political leaders.
Imran has argued that amendments to the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO), 1999 protect cabinet decisions from prosecution unless there is proof of personal gain. The IHC has acknowledged the “substance” of this claim and directed the trial court to consider it while deciding the matter.
He subsequently filed a civil miscellaneous application in the IHC seeking a hearing of his appeals against the accountability court verdict, which convicted him and his wife in the £190 million corruption case.