Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have petitioned the Pakistan Supreme Court seeking suspension of their convictions in the £190 million Al-Qadir University Project Trust corruption case, according to reports on Tuesday, 30 June. The couple is simultaneously seeking release pending the outcome of their appeals, after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) declined to stay their sentences in May.

Background to the Supreme Court Petition

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and his wife moved the apex court after the IHC rejected their suspension pleas in May, noting that their main appeals were already scheduled for hearing. Leading Pakistani daily The News International reported that the couple contended the high court had admitted their appeals as maintainable yet dismissed the suspension bids without conducting even a preliminary review of the evidence.

The petition argued that analysing case merits while deciding on a sentence suspension is legally permissible — and that the IHC's failure to do so was legally incorrect. It also noted that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had repeatedly sought adjournments, allegedly prolonging the appeal and delaying justice.

Health Concerns and Detention Conditions

A significant portion of the petition addresses the physical and mental condition of Imran Khan during his detention at Adiala Jail. The petition highlighted that Khan had developed an eye condition requiring repeated medical intervention, and contended that continuing his detention despite serious health concerns amounted to injustice. It also described the conditions of his confinement as constituting solitary confinement, which the petition argued caused him mental stress, and termed the manner of his original arrest unlawful.

The petition requested the Supreme Court to declare the IHC order null and void, suspend the sentences, and order the immediate release of both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi.

Family Raises Medical Treatment Alarm

Separately, Aleema Khan, Imran Khan's sister, on 16 June publicly questioned the medical care her brother was receiving. She stated the family would reject any medical report issued by the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), citing the institution's earlier claim that Khan had recovered 90 per cent of his eyesight — a claim Khan himself reportedly disputed when his lawyer visited him at Adiala Jail.

Aleema Khan said Khan had been taken to PIMS in the early hours of 15 June for a follow-up eye procedure — his fifth intravitreal injection — and demanded he instead be examined at Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad by independent specialists. She posted on X: 'Why does Imran Khan require a fifth injection? We do not accept the government's version of events.'

Alleged Violations of Court Orders on Family Access

Aleema Khan also alleged systematic violations of a full bench court order permitting six family members to meet Imran Khan every Tuesday. She stated that over the past eight months, authorities had largely ignored the order, and that his sister Dr. Uzma Khan had only been allowed to meet him a few times — with her last visit on 2 December 2025.

She further stated that Khan is entitled to a weekly telephone call with his sons, access to legal counsel, books, television, newspapers, and regular medical check-ups. Aleema Khan accused the Pakistani government of using 'isolation and deprivation as tools of pressure' against Khan and termed the denial of his rights a 'clear violation of both the jail manual and High Court orders.'

What Happens Next

The petition is now before the Pakistan Supreme Court, which will determine whether to grant a hearing and, if so, whether to suspend the sentences while the main appeals proceed. The outcome is likely to have significant political ramifications in Pakistan, where PTI remains a potent opposition force despite its founder's continued incarceration.