Khawar Maneka 'attacked' by lawyers' outside court

ISLAMABAD: Khawar Maneka — Bushra Bibi’s former husband, was attacked by lawyers outside court, where Judge Shahrukh Arjumand is hearing PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi’s plea against Nikah Case conviction, ARY News reported.

As per details, women hurled bottles at Khawar Maneka after his allegedly derogatory remarks during the case hearing.

The district and session court heard the case where Judge Shahrukh Arjumand was expected to announce the reserved verdict today.

During the hearing, Khawar Maneka’s counsel requested the court to transfer the case to another judge. as Maneka “don’t want the case verdict from you.”

The judge remarked that the no-confidence plea has already been disposed off, asking Maneka to consult his lawyer and let the court know.

He added that whoever judge take this case, they will have to announce a verdict.

“The case cannot be transferred to another court; it’s the high court’s authority,” Judge Shahrukh Arjumand emphasized.

At this Judge Shahrukh Arjumand left the courtroom and went to his chambers without announcing the verdict.

Letter to High Court

Session Judge Shahrukh Arjumand wrote a letter to the High Court regarding the ongoing Nikah case of Imra Khan and Bushra Bibi.

In the letter, the judge states that Khawar Manika has expressed no-confidence against him in the court during today’s hearing.

The judge also mentioned that Khawar Maneka’s plea was previously dismissed on April 30, 2024.

He stated, the complainant’s lawyer has always tried to delay the proceedings by making  excuses. The judge believes that it is not appropriate to raise specific objections against the presiding officer.

Arjumand said that arguments from both sides were heard in detail in this case.

He requested the High Court that these appeals be transferred to any other court who hold the authority to hear this case and a timeframe could also be set for the disposal of these appeals.

READ: Court reserves verdict on PTI founder, Bushra’s iddat appeals

It is pertinent to mention here that on May 23, a district and sessions court in Islamabad reserved verdict on appeals challenging the sentences of PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in iddat case.

Judge Shahrukh Arjumand reserved the verdict on appeals against the seven-year sentence of the former premier and the former first lady.

PTI counsel Usman Riaz Gul and the assistant counsel to Khawar Maneka’s lawyer Rizwan Abbasi appeared before the court.

The court was scheduled to announce the judgement on May 29 (today).

Imran Khan – Bushra Bibi marriage

The former prime minister married Bushra Bibi in February 2018 in Lahore.

The ceremony was attended by only close relatives, including the bride’s mother, and friends. PTI founder’s sisters, however, were not in attendance.

Mufti Saeed had performed the nikah in the presence of former Pakitan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Awn Chaudhary and former SAPM Zulfi Bukhari who appeared as witnesses.

Last year, Khawar Maneka — Bibi’s former husband, who had approached the court — had claimed that the marriage was illegal and against the laws of Sharia.

Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were originally accused of marrying within the three-month “iddat period” that follows a divorce. Additionally, Maneka has accused them of fornication.

Sentence

Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi awarded 7 years imprisonment in the ‘un-Islamic’ iddat case.

The reserved verdict in the ‘un-Islamic’ nikah case against Imran Khan and former First Lady, Bushra Bibi was announced by Judge Qudratullah.

The court sentenced the PTI founder Imran and Bushra Bibi to 7 years imprisonment and Rs 500,000 fine against each.