Court Suggests Ruling on Imran, Bushra’s Iddat Appeals Imminent

Court may announce verdict on Imran, Bushra’s iddat appeals today. Judge Shahrukh Arjumand presided over the appeals challenging the sentences of the PTI founder and his wife. PTI counsel Usman Riaz Gul and the assistant counsel to Khawar Maneka’s lawyer Rizwan Abbasi appeared before the court. Abbasi’s assistant counsel informed the court that the record was unavailable and Abbasi needed to present arguments. The judge instructed the PTI lawyer to finalize arguments and directed Maneka’s assistant counsel to inform Abbasi to present his arguments via video link by 1 pm. The judge also suggested deciding on the appeals against the couple’s sentence today. Subsequently, the court adjourned the hearing till 1 pm.

On April 30, a district and sessions court in Islamabad dismissed Maneka’s plea seeking transfer of the iddat case to another court. Maneka cited a lack of trust in the presiding judge, Shahrukh Arjumand, for seeking the transfer. However, Judge Arjumand disagreed with Maneka, asserting his trustworthiness. Lawyers representing Imran and Bushra previously expressed dissatisfaction with what they deemed the “delaying tactics” of Khawar Maneka’s lead counsel and the court’s decision to postpone the iddat case.

Read more: Imran Khan And Bushra Bibi Challenge Iddat Ruling In Court

The case dates back to November 2023 when Maneka filed a case against the couple, alleging they married without Bushra observing the mandatory waiting period—Iddat—required for Muslim women between two marriages. On February 3, 2024, a trial court sentenced Imran and Bushra to seven years in prison each for contracting the marriage during iddat. The PTI founder and his wife subsequently challenged the order in Islamabad District and Sessions Court.