Islamabad Accountability Court's Judge Muhammad Bashir, who is hearing cases instituted by the NAB against PTI founder Imran Khan, has withdrawn his leave application.
The Ministry of Law and Justice did not approve his leave request.
According to sources, the Law Ministry did not approve Judge Bashir’s request for leave, due to which it was withdrawn. Judge Muhammad Bashir had applied for leave from January 24 to his retirement date of March 14, citing an “illness”.
In a letter written to the Islamabad High Court and the Ministry of Law and Justice, Judge Bashir said he could not perform his duties due to his poor health. The accountability court judge is retiring on March 14, 2024 after completing his tenure.
It should be noted that two references of Toshakhana and 190 million pounds cases against former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were among the many high-profile cases pending in the court of Judge Muhammad Bashir.
Other cases under hearing in his court were against former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Yousaf Raza Gilani and former president Asif Ali Zardari regarding Toshakhana gifts.
He is also hearing a fake account case against Zardari as well as a NAB reference against former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.
In July 2018, Judge Bashir had sentenced Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz, and son-in-law Capt (retd) Safdar in the Avenfield reference. The IHC had later overturned the verdict on November 29, 2023.
