ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday reserved decision on Bushra Bibi’s petition, seeking her transfer from Banigala to Adiala Jail.

IHC Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb reserved the decision on her petition.

Bushra Bibi was arrested following her conviction in the Tosha­khana reference and Iddat case.

Following her arrest, the Banigala residence was declared a sub-jail.

She was then shifted there, apparently without the consent of her husband, Imran Khan, who opposed her transfer to Banigala, considering that scores of women activists of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) were detained in different jails at the time.

FIA requests more time in cipher case appeals; Imran challenges new inquiry

A week after her arrest, she challenged the residence’s status as a sub-jail.

In response, Adiala Jail administration opposed moving her to the prison, citing security threats due to overcrowding.

The court dismissed the petition last month due to non-prosecution, as her lawyers could not appear before the judge when the case was called for hearing.

The lawyers then filed an application for restoration of the petition.

During Thursday’s hearing, her counsel informed the judge that her conviction in the Toshakhana reference has been suspended, while the appeal against conviction in the Iddat case is pending before the district and sessions judge.

He said that Banigala residence was declared sub-jail by the chief commissioner Islamabad in violation of the rules.

Cipher case

Meanwhile, the special prosecutor of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Thursday sought more time to conclude his arguments on the appeals of former prime minister Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi against their conviction in the cipher case.

FIA special prosecutor Hamid Ali Shah informed the court that he would require at least five hours to conclude the arguments.

He explained the procedure laid down for the security of confidential documents.

He said that former principal secretary Azam Khan testified under oath that he handed over the cipher to Mr Khan, which was never returned.

New NAB inquiry

In a relevant development, former prime minister Mr Khan challenged another inquiry on Toshakhana gifts, initiated against him and his wife Bushra Bibi, before the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

Mr Khan challenged the call-up notice issued to him in this case, in which the bureau sought information about the gifts.

The IHC registrar’s office raised administrative objections on the petition that the former premier did not enclose a copy of the call-up notices.

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri gave the petitioner’s counsel seven days to remove the objections.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2024