Nikkah Case: Islamabad Court rejects Khawar Manika's plea of no-trust in judge

In the Nikkah Case against former premier Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, the Islamabad District and Session Court Tuesday rejected the request of Khawar Manika to transfer the case to another court.

According to the 24News HD TV channel, Islamabad District and Session Court Judge Shahrukh Arjumand pronounced the reserved decision on Khawar Manika's plea of no-confidence during the early hearing of the case today. The judge also adjourned the hearing of the Nikkah case till May 8.

Early on Tuesday, during the hearing of the Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi's Nikkah case, Islamabad District and Session Court reserved the verdict on Former first lady Bushra Bibi's ex-husband Khawar Manika's petition of no-confidence on the judge.

Khawar Manika expressed no confidence in Islamabad District and Sessions Judge Shahrukh Arjumand and appealed to shift the case to another court.

Khawar Manika took the stand in his 'no-confidence' petition that it has become known in his family that the judge [Shahrukh Arjumand] will acquit the former premier and founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) [Imran Khan] and Bushra Bibi.

Khawar Manika said, the court has gone in favour of the PTI founder and he doesn't think justice will be done so you should transfer this case.

Khawar Manika said before the trial, the Nikkahnama on January 1 was denied before the trial but now it has appeared during the proceedings of the case.

Khawar Manika said, "My family has been destroyed. If this happens to you then you will know." He added, "Zulfi Bukhari is making phone calls and messages to my daughters in my house. My family has been divided."

Khawar Manika said that Salman Akram Raja showed enthusiasm in this case for the [election] ticket but he did not come into the good book of the PTI's founder [Imran Khan].

On this, the District and Sessions Judge said how did you think this, is there any proof that I sympathize with PTI. I am the court, you tell me because I have been accused.

The judge said this is the first case in his 21-year career that someone distrusted him. He said this post was not important for him [but honour and credibility].

Judge Shahrukh Arjumand remarked that in our judicial system, the winning party says that we got justice late, and the loser party of the case says that the decision was taken after bribery.

The judge further remarked that this case has been heard to such an extent in this court that the case cannot be transferred to another court, and according to the law, the High Court under Section 528 can do something in this matter.

Over the issue of no-confidence in the judge, Imran Khan's lawyers Salman Akram Raja and Khawar Manika exchanged some harsh words in the court. Salman Akram Raja requested the court fine on the petitioner Khawar Manika for showing no-confidence in the judge at this stage of the case.

Salman Akram Raja said that asking a court to transfer a case on only this one sentence [of the Khawar Manika's family] is a contempt of court so he should be fined as recently Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Babar Sattar imposed a fine on the no-confidence petition.

Reporter: Hasar Ahsan