Bushra Bans Lawyers from Contacting Imran Khan, PTI Leaders Seek Audit of Legal Fees

ISLAMABAD: In a move that has raised eyebrows within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ranks, former First Lady Bushra Bibi has reportedly instructed Advocate Anwar to consult with her directly regarding cases filed against the PTI leadership. According to sources, Bushra also barred party lawyers from conveying any messages to PTI founder Imran Khan, who has been incarcerated since August following his conviction in the Toshakhana case, one of many cases filed after his ouster in April 2022.

Earlier this week, Bushra is said to have resolved internal disputes among the party’s legal team and informed the jailed PTI leader about the resolutions, including changes in the party’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter leadership. Sources also claimed that the final decisions regarding these changes were made in consultation with Bushra.

However, Advocate Anwar, when approached for a comment, denied the report. He stated that Bushra had not contacted him and that he was unaware of any instructions barring lawyers from communicating with Imran Khan. PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, when contacted for comment, declined to provide a statement on the matter.

In a related development, PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat has called for an audit of the legal fees paid to lawyers representing the party in various cases. Speaking to a private news channel, Marwat criticized the high payments made to certain lawyers, claiming that the cases did not warrant such significant legal expertise. He emphasized that many of the cases were baseless, and the legal work did not require top-tier lawyers. Marwat, who represented Imran Khan in 74 cases without accepting any payment, questioned the necessity of the excessive fees.

“There should definitely be an audit of the fees paid. A few lawyers took money, and the payments were far beyond what was reasonable given the nature of the cases,” he remarked.

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Marwat’s comments come at a time when tensions within the PTI are high, with some senior leaders expressing frustration over increasing interference from Bushra Bibi and Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, in the party’s internal affairs. The rising confrontations, including an incident between Aleema Khan and senior PTI members Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and Raja within the Adiala jail, have further escalated concerns about the internal dynamics of the party.

As the situation unfolds, PTI leaders are navigating the delicate balance between party loyalty and the growing influence of Khan’s family members on party matters.