RAWALPINDI: A trial court on Saturday handed seven-year sentences, 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 today.
The couple have also been fined Rs500,000 each. Both Khan and Bushra were present in the courtroom when the verdict was announced.
The verdict was pronounced by senior civil judge Qudratullah today, a day after the hearing of the case was conducted inside the jail premises for 14 hours a day earlier.
The court had reserved its decision after the arguments were completed yesterday.
The judge issued the court’s verdict in the case pertaining to the plea filed by Bushra Bibi’s ex-husband Khawar Maneka against what he refers to as an un-Islamic and illegal nikah with the former prime minister.
Four witnesses in the case gave the statements, which were later cross-examined during the proceedings, while Khan and Bushra Bibi also recorded their statements under section 342.
Bushra Bibi, who was placed under house arrest her residence in Banigala following its status declared as a sub-jail, was presented before the court during today’s proceedings at Adiala jail. Imran, who remains incarcerated at the facility, and the couple’s lawyers were also present at the time of verdict announcement.
Nikah during iddat
Maneka, in his petition, had termed Bushra and Khan’s nikkah “fraudulent” contending that the marriage was solemnised during her iddat — following her divorce with him.
“That above said nikah and the marriage ceremony was neither legal nor Islamic as it was solemnised without observing iddah period,” read the petition available with Geo.tv.
He also accused the former prime minister of ruining his entire life with the petition stating that the PTI top leader “stigmatised the complainant and his family just to achieve his unethical and immoral objects through intrusion in the complainant’s peaceful marital life”.
“In light of the above, it is humbly prayed that respondents No.1 [Imran Khan] and 2 [Bushra Bibi] be summoned and punished strictly in accordance with law in the interest of justice,” Maneka prayed to the court.
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