The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued an important order concerning former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s meetings with his lawyers in prison. The court has directed the lawyers to avoid political discussions after meeting Khan and to restrict their statements to legal matters. Meanwhile, the appeals filed by Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in the £190 million case have been scheduled for hearing on November 18, 2026.
According to the court order reported on November 13, a two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif issued a two-page written order outlining instructions regarding the appeals and lawyers’ meetings with the former prime minister.
The court directed lawyers meeting Imran Khan in prison to avoid discussing political issues afterward and to focus exclusively on matters related to the ongoing legal proceedings.
The order also addressed preparations for the upcoming appeal hearing.
The Islamabad High Court instructed the relevant authorities to prepare the appeal paper books within seven days and granted the lawyers one week to prepare their arguments.
Paper books are organized collections of court records, evidence, and other relevant documents required during appellate proceedings.
During the hearing, senior lawyer Sardar Latif Khosa informed the court that he was unable to present arguments because he had not been given an opportunity to meet his client.
Another lawyer, Salman Safdar, told the court that he had received instructions regarding the appeal but that the duration of his meeting with Imran Khan had been insufficient.
After hearing the lawyers’ concerns, the court directed the Advocate General to arrange a meeting between Imran Khan and his legal representatives.
The court further instructed that the meeting should last at least one hour, allowing the lawyers sufficient time to consult their client about the pending legal matters.
The decision is significant because legal consultations between defendants and their representatives are an important part of preparing appeals and presenting arguments before a court.
The Islamabad High Court has now scheduled the appeals of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi for November 18.
Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif will hear the appeals concerning the £190 million case.
The case remains under judicial consideration, and the upcoming hearing will provide an opportunity for the lawyers to present their legal arguments.
The court’s instructions regarding post-meeting political discussions have also attracted attention because they specifically distinguish legal consultation from political commentary.
However, the reported order does not establish that the lawyers are prohibited from consulting Imran Khan about his legal cases. Instead, it provides for a meeting of at least one hour to facilitate legal preparation.
The next hearing on November 18 will be an important stage in the appeals process, although no final outcome has been announced.
Further proceedings will depend on the arguments presented by the legal teams and the directions issued by the court.