Nikah case: Manika, Mufti Saeed lied to court: Salman Raja

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad District and Sessions Court has adjourned the hearing of appeals by PTI founder and his wife Bushra Bibi against conviction in Nikah during the Iddat case till the receipt of a reply from Rizwan Abbasi advocate. Suleman Akram Raja counsel for the PTI founder appeared in the court, while the assistant lawyer to Raja Rizwan Abbasi told the court that Abbasi had gone to Denmark.

He told the court that both Khawar Manika and Mufti Saeed had lied to the court. Suleman Akram Raja referred to a Supreme Court judgment in the Iddat case and said the decision was given keeping in view the dignity and privacy of women. He said the Supreme Court’s decision about iddat can only be changed by the Supreme Court. Recently Manika in a video interview cleared Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi of any wrongdoing. Arguing about Manika’s statement, Suleman Akram Raja advocate said Khawar Manika was arrested and cases were registered against him. He was set free on November 14, 2023, and complained on November 25. He said Manika lied before the trial court and expressed a lack of confidence in this court too. Imran’s lawyer further told the court Mufti Saeed remained part of the PTI core committee. Mufti Saeed told the court he solemnized Imran and Bushra’s Nikah but he could not remember the name of the witnesses. On his request, a video statement of Mufti Saeed about Nikah during Iddat was run before the court. He had said that the evidence of a woman about iddat is final.

Later he deviated before the trial court from his prior statement. Raja said the objective of showing Mufti Saeed’s video statement is to bring forth his character. His denial of not knowing the witnesses is enough to prove him a liar.Raja said nothing was on record to prove the nikah was fraudulent.

He requested the court to direct Rizwan Abbasi to argue through a video link. Judge Shah Rukh Arjumand directed Abbasi’s assistant to tell him to give arguments through E Court. Later the court adjourned the hearing till Abbas’s reply was received.