Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), along with his wife Bushra Bibi, has lodged an appeal against a recent verdict in an illegal marriage case at the District and Sessions Courts in Islamabad.
The appeal, submitted on Friday, challenges the ruling delivered by Civil Judge Qudratullah on February 2nd, which found the couple guilty of conducting their nikah during Bushra Bibi’s iddat period following her divorce from her former husband, Khawar Maneka.
Scheduled for today, the sessions court will review the couple’s appeal. Sources close to the matter reveal that Bushra Bibi’s legal team strongly disputes the verdict, claiming it contradicts the facts.
Key points highlighted in the appeal include the rejection of a plea to determine the court’s jurisdiction without explanation, as well as claims of improper trial conduct by the civil court. Moreover, the appeal argues that while the trial court referred to legal rules, it disregarded Sharia law concerning divorce, which is pivotal to the case.
Additionally, the appeal contends that Khawar Maneka, the petitioner, filed the complaint after six years, raising doubts about its timing. Furthermore, inconsistencies in the statements of Maneka and other witnesses cast doubts on the authenticity of the claims.
A central argument in the appeal revolves around the lack of substantial evidence provided by Mufti Saeed to support the alleged second nikah between Bushra Bibi and Imran Khan. This lack of proof is emphasized as crucial to Bushra Bibi’s defense.
Furthermore, Bibi’s legal representatives criticize the trial court judge for alleged biased judgment. They call for the decision to be overturned, asserting that justice has not been served.
The appeal process marks a significant development in the ongoing legal battle involving Bushra Bibi, adding complexity to the situation. All eyes are on the District and Sessions Courts in Islamabad as the appeals progress.
On February 3rd, a senior civil judge pronounced the verdict in the illegal nikah case, sentencing Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi to seven years in prison each. Their nikah, purportedly conducted during Bibi’s iddat period after her divorce from Khawar Maneka, was also declared ‘un-Islamic’. Both were fined Rs500,000 each. The decision was announced in Adiala Jail, where Imran Khan is serving a sentence in Toshakhana and cipher cases.
