Imran, Bushra challenge ‘illegal marriage’ case verdict

ISLAMABAD: PTI founder chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi Friday filed an appeal with the sessions court challenging the recent verdict in the illegal marriage case.

The appeal challenged the Feb 3 judgment delivered by Civil Judge Qudratullah, which found the couple guilty of solemnizing their Nikkah during iddat.

Bushra Bibi’s legal team has strongly criticised the verdict, terming it “contrary to the facts”.

The key points highlighted in the appeal include the dismissal of a plea to determine the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case without assigning any reason as well as claims that the civil court failed to conduct the trial properly. Furthermore, the appeal argues that the trial court interpreted the rules of reference but disregarded the Sharia law regarding divorce, despite its significance in the case.

It further contended that the petitioner, Khawar Maneka, filed the complaint after six years, adding that a similar application was earlier filed through another complainant.

The late filing of the complaint raises doubts, it argues. Additionally, there were discrepancies in the statements of Maneka and other witnesses that kept changing, raising doubts about the authenticity of claims.

One of the central arguments in the appeal revolves round Mufti Saeed’s inability to provide substantial evidence supporting the alleged second Nikkah between Bushra Bibi and Imran Khan. This lack of proof has been emphasized as a crucial point in Bushra Bibi’s defense.

Furthermore, Bibi’s legal representatives have criticized the trial court judge, accusing him of using his “wrong judicial mind” in delivering the verdict. They have called for the decision to be set aside, stressing that justice has not been served in the case.