Maneka moves court against ex-wife, PTI chief for marrying during Iddat

ISLAMABAD: Khawar Maneka, ex-husband of Bushra Bibi, on Saturday filed a petition in a lower court in Islamabad against his former wife and former prime minister Imran Khan over alleged pre-marriage relationship.

A petition has been filed before Civil Court Judge Qudrat Ullah in which Khawar said that Bushra Bibi got married to him in 1989 and both of them were living a happily married life.

The petition has made Imran and Bushra respondents. The complainant has also attached a list of witnesses which include Mufti Saeed, Aun Chaudhry, Mohammad Latif and himself. “We were enjoying a happily married life since 1989 until Imran Khan entered our life behind the façade of peeri mureedi and started visiting the house in my absence. Besides Imran Khan, Zulfi Bukhari also used to frequently come in his absence,” Khawar said in the petition.

Imran Khan use to remain in my house for hours, which was not only unethical, undesirable but also un-Islamic, he added. “My sister-in-law, Bushra’s sister, who is a staunch supporter of the Jewish lobby, introduced Imran Khan to Bushra,” the petition said.

The petition further states that he (Maneka) tried to salvage his marriage but all in vain and ultimately he had to divorce his wife on Nov 14, 2017. He said he was forced by Farah Gogi to change the divorce date but even despite his refusal, Imran and Bushra got married during the Iddat period on Jan 1, 2018.

The marriage between Bushra and Imran is, therefore, illegal and non-Islamic as it was solemnised without observing the Iddat period, the petition said. He said fornification has been committed by both Imran and Bushra. Hence the court should summon the respondents and punish them strictly in accordance with the law, the petition concluded.

Civil Judge Qudratullah adjourned the hearing till November 28 while recording Khawar Manika’s statement. It is pertinent to note that earlier on Friday, Judicial Magistrate Qudratullah accepted the petitioner Muhammad Hanif’s appeal to withdraw the marriage case.