Today, the Islamabad district and sessions court are scheduled to deliver the long-awaited verdict on the appeals lodged by former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi in the Iddat case, where they challenge their conviction. The presiding judge, Shahrukh Arjumand, will announce the decision after it was deferred from the previous week.
During the last hearing, the absence of the lead counsel for the complainant, Khawar Fareed Maneka, was noted. Defense counsel Usman Gill and the prosecutor concluded their arguments, while the court instructed Maneka’s associate to inform him about the option to present his case either in person or via video link. However, as Maneka failed to appear, the court opted to reserve its verdict.
Read more: Court Suggests Ruling on Imran, Bushra’s Iddat Appeals Imminent
In the Iddat case, Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were sentenced to seven years each for their marriage, which was deemed “un-Islamic” by the court. This decision marks another legal setback for Khan, following his recent conviction in the Toshakhana corruption case. Khan and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, have denounced these legal battles as politically motivated, alleging interference from powerful quarters.
Criticism has been widespread, with civil society, experts, and analysts decrying the verdict as a blow to the judiciary’s credibility. Khan maintains that these legal challenges are part of a larger scheme to undermine him and his party ahead of elections, accusing the state of obstructing their political activities.
