Imran, Bushra indicted in nikah case

ISLAMABAD: Senior Civil Judge Qudratullah on Tuesday indicted former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in the illegal nikah case.

The judge heard the case in the Adiala Jail. The indictment was deferred in the previous hearing due to the absence of Bushra Bibi. Bushra appeared in the court but left the premises before the judge could read out the indictment. The jail administration informed the judge that she came at 11:13 am and left at 1:42 pm. Imran was produced before the court and his attendance was marked.

The judge read out the charges against the accused in the presence of PTI legal team and expressed anger over the absence of Bushra Bibi. Lawyer Usman Gill informed the court about Bushra Bibi’s health and departure.

The court had initially scheduled the couple’s indictment for January 10, but it was adjourned to January 15 after delays on both January 10 and 11. The court summoned the witnesses on January 18. The court sought a report from the prison authorities on the arrival and departure of Bushra Bibi and said if she had entered the prison with the permission of the court, then how did she go back without the court’s permission.

The jail officials told the court that Bushra Bibi came at 11:13 am and left at 1:42 pm. Imran came to the rostrum and requested the judge not to file charges until the High Court orders. However, the court read out the charge sheet and indicted the accused. Additionally, the PTI chief was also called to the rostrum upon which the former premier expressed a lack of understanding of the legal terms, saying that he would sign the charge sheet after his lawyer briefed him. Later, Imran signed the charge sheet following consultations with his lawyers.

Meanwhile, Accountability Court (AC) Judge Muhammad Bashir recorded the statements of two witnesses in the Toshakhana case, filed against PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in Adiala jail. The court summoned more witnesses to record their statements on January 17. The statements of 11 witnesses have been recorded and statements of more witnesses will be recorded in the next hearing.

Also, the jail trial of PTI founder in the Toshakhana and Al Qadir Trust cases was challenged in the Islamabad High Court (IHC). The PTI founder filed petitions against the jail trial notification making the NAB chairman and other respondents. The petition said the notifications of jail trial were illegal and based on malafide intent. He requested the court to nullify the notifications of jail trial besides halting the proceedings of trial court until his petitions are pending in the court.

The PTI requested the Supreme Court to fix for early hearing its petition filed against the disqualification of its founding Chairman Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case. Advocate Latif Khosa requested Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa to fix for early hearing its petition filed against Imran Khan’s conviction in the Toshakhana case.

The CJP, however, told Khosa, on the one hand, he was accusing them outside the court while, on the other hand, he sought relief from them. “Khosa sahib you hurl allegations [against us when outside the court],” CJP Isa remarked. He, however, told Khosa that the court could look into what possible relief can be given to the PTI founder in connection with the request for an early hearing after the application is filed in court.