The Iddat marriage case against Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi is expected to conclude by July 8

The Islamabad District and Sessions Court is moving towards concluding the iddat case involving former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi by July 8. Additional Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka presided over the central appeals filed by the couple challenging their sentences in the case. During the hearing, Imran Khan’s lawyer Salman Akram Raja argued that the Supreme Court has granted protections to women regarding the iddat period, emphasizing its intended purpose as a time for potential reconciliation rather than a mechanism against women. Raja also raised concerns about discrepancies in Mufti Saeed’s testimony, highlighting contradictions in his statements.

Raja further contended that Bushra Bibi’s former husband, Khawar Maneka, had made misleading statements in his court testimony, including referring to her as his “ex-wife” in a video statement. He also pointed out contradictions in Mufti Saeed’s statements regarding familiarity with witnesses during the trial. Emphasizing what he sees as politically motivated charges against Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi, Raja stressed the need to review the complete record of the case.

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Meanwhile, Khawar Maneka’s lawyer requested a postponement until July 5 due to a prior commitment in the high court. The court granted the adjournment request and instructed Raja and Barrister Salman Safdar to complete their arguments by the following day. Maneka’s legal team was directed to present their arguments on either July 4 or 8, with the court aiming to conclude the case by July 8.

Last week, Judge Afzal Majoka rejected the appeals filed by Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi seeking suspension of their sentences in the iddat nikah case. The court upheld the sentence, prompting immediate plans by PTI to challenge the decision in the Islamabad High Court. In a 10-page written order, Judge Majoka maintained that the accused did not provide sufficient grounds for the suspension of their sentences, affirming that gender considerations alone were not sufficient justification for bail or suspension of sentence for Bushra Bibi.