The Islamabad High Court has dismissed objections from the registrar’s office regarding the appeals filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in the ‘un-Islamic’ iddat nikah case.
Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb presided over the hearing and decided to consolidate the two applications, scheduling a notice for June 13 to address Bushra Bibi’s plea for the suspension of her sentence.
During the proceedings, Justice Aurangzeb questioned the basis of the objections raised against the applications. PTI lawyer Salman Akram Raja stressed that administrative orders should not impede the pursuit of judicial relief.
The petitioners’ counsel argued that the sessions judge had set the judgment date for the appeals on May 23, with the verdict expected on May 29. He confirmed that the court had reserved its decision after concluding arguments on May 23. Justice Aurangzeb inquired about a written no-confidence motion filed against the judge on May 29.
Salman Akram Raja clarified that no such document was submitted in writing and that the initial no-confidence motion was rejected.
He added that Judge Shahrukh Arjumand had denied Khawar Maneka’s request to transfer the case. The court also questioned whether the rejection of the transfer request by the sessions court was challenged. Salman Akram Raja confirmed that it was not. The judge further asked if it was appropriate to return a case to a judge who had previously recused himself from it.
Salman Safdar, representing Bushra Bibi, highlighted that her request differed slightly from the main petition, emphasizing that no decision had been made on the appeal and the plea for sentence suspension in the sessions court. The lawyer asserted that the Islamabad High Court has the authority to issue an order for suspending the sentences.
With the objections overturned and the appeals consolidated, the IHC will now deliberate on the next steps in this high-profile case on June 13.
