Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi indicted in ‘illegal nikah’ case

An Islamabad court of Senior Civil Judge Quadrat Ullah indicted PTI founding chairman Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in the “Illegal Nikkah” case, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Civil Judge Quadrat Ullah conducted the hearing of the case at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on Tuesday and read out the indictment. The judge adjourned the case until January 18.

Details of Today's Hearing:

Senior Civil Judge Qaudrat Ullah conducted the hearing in Adiala Jail where Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi appeared.

During the hearing, the plaintiff's lawyer Raja Rizwan Abbasi appeared in the court, but the hearing was adjourned due to the absence of the defence lawyers of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi.

During this break of the court, Bushra Bibi left the courtroom.

When the hearing started again, defence lawyers Usman Gill and Khalid Yusuf appeared in the court.

The court inquired where is Bushra Bibi, and then Defence Lawyer Usman Gill said that Bushra Bibi's health had become unwell, she had to go to the hospital, and she went back.

Judge Qaudrat Ullah expressed his displeasure at Bushra Bibi's return without informing him and said the commitment should be fulfilled, the accused was just present in the court some time ago. He said he was going to issue the warrant yesterday but did not do it out of respect for Latif Khosa.

The plaintiff's lawyer Rizwan Abbasi said that the accused was present in the court, but how did she go without the permission of the court?

On this Usman Gill said that he will give medical.

Rizwan Abbasi said that if anyone thinks that the court will be evaded, then it is a misunderstanding, there is a list of pathology tests in the medical, but the disease and treatment are not written in it.

Osman Gill said he would submit the application for it. But the judge said that there is no exemption for leaving without the court's permission after the presence of the court.

On this, Usman Gill said that she was present in the court, and wanted to report but avoided as she is a veiled woman.

On this, the plaintiff's lawyer Rizwan Abbasi argued that if the council was not present, she could have told through her husband.

Replying to this, Usman Gill said that anything can happen to anyone at any time.

The judge said that if one enters the jail with the permission of the court, then how did she go back from the jail without the permission of the court? The court sought a report from the jail authorities regarding the arrival and departure of Bushra Bibi.

The court also inquired whether she walked herself or someone picked her up.

The jail officials told the court that Bushra Bibi came at 11:13 am and returned at 1:42 pm. The jail officials also informed the court that Bushra Bibi came on her own and went back on her own.

At this stage, the court summoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan to the rostrum. Imran Khan's lawyer Usman Gill told the court that their petition is under hearing in the Islamabad High Court, the notices have been served and the next hearing is on January 17 so he requests the court not to impose charges against his clients until the High Court orders.

Senior Civil Judge Qaudrat Ullah said there is a problem that the court was cheated here.

On this, Imran Khan said that there are four cases in a day against them (Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi), what is the problem if one is adjourned?

However, the court read the charge sheet and indicted the accused Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi in the Un-Islamic Nikkah case.

On this, Imran Khan's lawyer Usman Gill said that as per the law, the charges could not be framed in the absence of an accused so they do not believe in this indictment.

Imran Khan said it is all under the London Agreement, he [Khawar Maneka] remembered after 6 years when his 'software is updated'.

Later, the court adjourned the hearing while summoning the witnesses. The next hearing will be held on Thursday, January 18.

Yesterday Hearing:

On Monday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had reserved its verdict in response to Bushra Bibi’s plea against her ex-husband Khawar Maneka’s petition accusing her of being in an “un-Islamic” marriage with the former prime minister.

In December 2023, Maneka had challenged Bushra and Khan’s marriage in a district and sessions court in Islamabad, only a day after a similar plea was withdrawn by an individual named Muhamad Hanif — against Khan and Bushra’s Nikkah — “due to technical reasons”.

Reporter Hashir Ahsan