Islamabad: The District and Sessions Court in Islamabad rejected a plea to stay the verdict of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in the Iddat case.
The decision was strongly condemned by the PTI as “absolutely ridiculous” and today, leaders hoping for Imran’s release staged a demonstration outside Adiala jail, where a court was set up to provide security. former prime minister.
Additional Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka today pronounced the reserved judgment on Tuesday, while the hearing on the central plea to dismiss the case will be held on July 2.
The PTI founder and Bushra were sentenced to seven years in prison in February this year after Bushra’s husband, Khawar Maneka, filed a court case against the couple, alleging that the marriage was a sham.
In a 10-page order, the court said there was no reason to stay the sentence.
“… There is no merit to either of the petitioners seeking stay [of the sentence]. Accordingly, both petitions under Section 426 Cr.PC are dismissed.”
Reacting to the lower court’s decision, PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan said, “We will immediately challenge the decision in the high court.”
Following this announcement, PTI workers started protesting outside the district and assembly courts and blocked roads. There were women chanting slogans in favor of the PTI founder at the protestors.
Meanwhile, heavy police was deployed outside the court.
Khan, who is currently incarcerated in Rawalpindi’s Adaila jail, is likely to be released if the verdict is successful. PTI founder Toshakhana was acquitted in the encryption case, while his bond of 190 million pounds was also confirmed.
Khan was also granted bail in cases registered in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad on May 9. On the other hand, the Federal Bureau of Investigation questioned X twice about anti-government tweets he had shared on Twitter. However, there is no new case against the PTI founder.
Court
The incident first came to light when the petitioner, Muhammad Hanif Bushra, stated that Bibi divorced her ex-husband in November 2017 and married Khan on January 1, 2018. Isolation after the death or divorce from the husband is “against Sharia and Muslim law”.
The district and assembly courts in Islamabad rejected his plea. The court termed the plea as “inadmissible” and said it was beyond the court’s jurisdiction and did not entertain the petitioner’s appeal.
Bushra’s ex-husband Khawar Maneka then filed a complaint against Khan and Bushra for “un-Islamic marriage” under Section 34, 496, 496-B of Pakistan on November 25, 2023. Penal Code. The couple was charged on January 16, 2024 in the iddat case. After a 14-hour trial at Adiala prison, the trial court reserved its verdict on February 2 and sentenced Imran and Bushra to seven years in prison in February. 3.
This case was heard by the Sessions Judge Shahrukh Arjumand, who had previously expressed no confidence in Maneka, and sought to transfer the case to Islamabad Majoka High Court.
