The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has transferred the iddat case related to the alleged “un-Islamic nikah” between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to another district and sessions court. This decision came after District and Sessions Judge Shahrukh Arjumand expressed no confidence due to reservations raised by Bushra’s ex-husband, Khawar Maneka. As a result, Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka will now preside over the case.
Judge Arjumand, in a letter to the IHC registrar on May 29, stated that it would be inappropriate for him to announce the verdict in the case due to the reservations raised by Maneka. He also complained of repeated disruptions by Maneka and his lawyers during the hearing. Maneka himself had expressed his lack of confidence in the judge during a hearing on May 29, stating, “I don’t want you deciding this case.”
The case has been marred by controversies, including an incident where Maneka was reportedly beaten by a PTI lawyer in the court premises. Judge Arjumand, during the hearing of appeals filed by Bushra and Khan against conviction in the iddat case, went into his chamber without announcing the verdict, leading to further unrest in the courtroom.
The iddat case revolves around Maneka’s challenge to Khan and Bushra Bibi’s marriage, terming their nikah as fraudulent and emphasizing that it was solemnized during her iddat. The trial court had previously handed down a seven-year sentence to the couple in February and imposed a fine of Rs500,000 each.
Amidst the legal turmoil, PTI Information Secretary Raoof Hasan commented on the case, reiterating the party’s belief in the court’s role as a guardian of justice, stating that it should not be used for political matters and should not allow itself to be manipulated.
The transfer of the case to another court underscores the intricate and delicate nature of the legal proceedings, presenting a challenge to ensuring a fair and impartial resolution to the dispute. This complexity invites our audience to delve deeper into the intricacies of the case.
