On Thursday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) ordered the session court to announce its verdict on Bushra Bibi’s plea seeking suspension of her conviction in the Nikah case within 10 days, according to Pakistan Talk Show.
Bushra Bibi, the wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, had moved the IHC against the conviction, which sentenced both her and Imran Khan to seven years in jail and imposed a fine of Rs500,000 each.
The IHC directed Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka to expedite and conclude the case within the specified timeframe. Previously, the IHC had transferred the case to Judge Majoka after Khawar Manika, Bushra Bibi’s former husband, raised objections against Session Judge Shahrukh Arjumand.
The case involves allegations that Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi married during the three-month “iddat period” following her divorce, which, according to Islamic law, is a waiting period before a woman can remarry. Khawar Manika claimed that this marriage was illegal under Sharia law and accused them of fornication.
The former prime minister Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi’s marriage took place in February 2018, performed by Mufti Saeed with a small group of close relatives and friends attending. The legal proceedings were initiated after Manika’s accusations last year, leading to the recent conviction and ongoing appeals.
The session court is now tasked with delivering a decision on the suspension plea within 10 days, following the IHC’s directive.