AC Adjourns Al-Qadir Trust Case Hearing Until November 13

ISLAMABAD: The ongoing legal proceedings surrounding the Al-Qadir Trust case have taken another turn as an Accountability Court has decided to adjourn the hearing until November 13. This decision came after the defense requested additional time to prepare their responses to a set of questionnaires issued under Section 342 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). These questionnaires were specifically directed at Bushra Bibi, the wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan.

During the court session held at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, Judge Nasir Javed Rana granted the defense counsel's request, allowing them more time to submit their replies. The questionnaires, which contain a total of 79 questions, were presented to Khan's legal representative, Barrister Salman Safdar, in the presence of both Khan and his wife during a previous hearing.

It is important to understand the significance of Section 342 of the CrPC. This section permits the court to question an accused individual after the prosecution has concluded its evidence. The primary aim of this examination is to provide the accused an opportunity to clarify any points that may arise from the evidence presented against them.

At the beginning of the hearing, Khan's counsel, Faisal Chaudhry, informed the court that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had previously ordered that the applications for the accused's acquittal be addressed first. However, Judge Rana noted that he had not yet received any directives regarding this matter.

The prosecutor from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) argued that since the accused were present in court, their statements under Section 342 should be recorded without delay. In response, Chaudhry reiterated that the extensive questionnaire would require considerable time to prepare a comprehensive reply or to record a statement under the same section.

This case continues to draw significant public interest, as it involves prominent political figures and raises questions about accountability and justice in Pakistan. As the legal proceedings unfold, many are left wondering how this will impact the political landscape and the future of those involved. The adjournment until November 13 provides a brief pause in the proceedings, but the implications of this case will likely resonate far beyond the courtroom.