ISLAMABAD – The trial court on Saturday awarded seven-year jail sentence, each, to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in the “un-Islamic nikah” case at the Adiala jail.
Senior civil judge Qudratullah pronounced the verdict on a petition filed by Bushra Bibi’s ex-husband Khawar Maneka alleging that her nikkah with the former prime minister was un-Islamic and illegal.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs500,000 each on the couple. Both Imran Khan and Bushra were present in the courtroom when the verdict was announced.
The court had reserved its decision after the arguments were wrapped up by both sides yesterday.
In the last hearing, the country’s main opposition leader Khan and his wife recorded statements under section 342 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Khan’s legal team also completed the cross-examination of four witnesses in the case including Mufti Saeed, Khawar Maneka -Bushra Bibi’s ex-husband-, Aun Chaudhry, and Muhammad Latif.
Khan’s wife maintained that Khawar Maneka divorced her in April 2017 after which she completed her Iddat period by August.
Bushra mentioned moving to her mother’s house and then she married Imran Khan in January. The country’s former first lady again denied accusations of second nikkah.
She told the court that she first met with Imran Khan in presence of her family before January 2018. She added an announcement of her marriage was officially made in February 2018.
In recent hearings, Imran Khan and Kahwar Maneka had heated exchange as latter accused PTI chief of destroying his house.
More to follow…
