In a significant development, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday approved the transfer request of Bushra Bibi, wife of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, from their Banigala residence, previously designated as a sub-jail, to Adiala Jail, where her husband is currently held.

The verdict, delivered by Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, comes after a week of deliberation following the reservation of the decision last week.

Bushra Bibi’s petition, initially disposed of last month due to her legal representatives’ absence, saw restoration efforts the same day, culminating in this ruling.

The former first lady’s detention on January 31 stemmed from an Islamabad accountability court’s sentencing of both her and Imran Khan to 14 years in prison in the Toshakhana reference. While their sentences were suspended by the IHC on April 1 in the Toshakhana case, Bushra remains detained in connection with the Iddat case, alongside Imran, who faces additional charges.

After the Toshakhana verdict, Bushra Bibi voluntarily surrendered at Adiala Jail, where she was promptly taken into custody by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Subsequently, she was relocated to their Banigala residence following a late-night notification declaring it a sub-jail. This move, which had been a subject of debate for months, was made despite both Bushra and Imran denying any application to designate their residence as a sub-jail.

Nearly a week post-arrest, Bushra Bibi contested the status of their Banigala residence as a sub-jail, appealing to the IHC to allow her to serve her sentence in Adiala Jail.

During subsequent hearings, the Adiala Jail administration opposed her relocation, citing security concerns due to overcrowding in the prison facility.