The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday granted the counsel for former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi a final opportunity to present arguments in their appeals against convictions in the £190 million case, warning that no further adjournments will be granted.

In a written order issued by a bench comprising Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif, the court said that if arguments are not presented at the next hearing, it will proceed to hear the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and decide the appeals on the basis of the available record.

The court accepted a request to adjourn the proceedings after Imran Khan’s counsel Latif Khosa gave an undertaking that he would not seek any further adjournment and would present arguments on behalf of the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi at the next hearing.

The order noted that Latif Khosa’s power of attorney on behalf of both appellants was already on record and that he had unequivocally assured the court that the appeals would be argued at the next hearing.

The bench made it clear that this was the final opportunity being granted.

It further stated that if the defence fails to present arguments at the next hearing, the court will not entertain any request for adjournment and will decide the appeals after hearing NAB and examining the available record.