ISLAMABAD: Defending him against a barrage of accusations doing the rounds in the media concerning his marriage, PTI former chairman Imran Khan Monday claimed that he never met Bushra Bibi before their marriage and saw her face only after Nikah.
He was talking informally to journalists at the Adiala Jail, where the Special Court decided to indict him and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in the cypher case on December 12.
However, Imran’s former confidante Aun Chaudhry contested his assertion stating, “When a leader, who claims himself to be anational leader tells such a blatant lie, it becomes my duty to reveal the truth”.
Chaudhry claimed that if he disclosed the ‘secrets’ of the PTI former chief, he would find no place to hide his face.He asserted that even before their marriage, Bushra Bibi had met and seen Imran on several occasions.
He challenged Bushra Bibi to swear on the Holy Quran that she had not shown her face to Khan before their marriage.Chaudhry claimed that he personally arranged meetings between Khan and Bushra before their marriage.
Imran also claimed that Bushra’s sons were being pressurised to give a statement against their mother.The former premier said he will include former army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa and US embassy officials as witnesses in his defence.
“Will include General Bajwa and US embassy officials as witnesses in the case. General Bajwa did everything on Donald Lu’s directives”, he said.Imran predicted that his party would win the February 8 polls adding that he was arrested under a plan.
The ex-premier said he was thankful to those leaders who had jumped off the PTI ship. He also rejected reports that he had held negotiations in jail. Imran claimed the PTI would sweep the elections. He said his rivals, sensing defeat, might escape elections. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman won 162 seats despite all odds, Imran Khan added.
Meanwhile, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the co-accused in the cipher case, said the PTI was in his heart and no one could take it out.“I do not need any post in PTI anymore,” said Qureshi while talking to journalists.
On the directions of Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain, copies of the investigation report were shared with the accused.Imran told the court that he had ordered an inquiry into the cipher being the prime minister. He claimed that efforts were being made to save some powerful people who were involved in the case.
“We have been locked up like goats, while Nawaz Sharif has been brought here from abroad”, Khan added.The Special Court, established under the Official Secrets Act 2023, held an open court hearing in the jail where Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi are incarcerated.
The court is conducting the trial afresh after the Islamabad High Court nullified the jail trial on November 21. Both of them were indicted on October 23 but the indictment stood cancelled after the IHC order.
