The reserved verdict in the case of deposed prime minister and former first lady has been announced by IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, who presided over the hearing. Justice Aamer Farooq stated in the order that “The petitioners have been indicted and the high court cannot interfere.” As a result of this decision, the stay order on the trial of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi has been vacated, allowing the trial court in Rawalpindi to proceed with the case.
A Rawalpindi trial court had indicted former prime minister Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi in an ‘un-Islamic’ marriage case on Jan 16. The charges against the couple were framed based on a complaint filed by Bushra Bibi’s ex-husband Khawar Farid Maneka under Sections 34, 496, and 496B of the Pakistan Penal Code.
During the hearing, PTI lawyer Salman Akram Raja argued that the case was aimed at humiliating the petitioners and highlighted that the complaint against Imran’s marriage was filed almost six years after the nikkah in November 2023. The counsel for Bushra’s ex-husband Khawar Maneka informed the court that witnesses had testified in the trial court about Bushra’s concurrent marriage with Imran at the time of their marriage ceremony.
Following arguments by counsels of both parties, the court reserved a verdict. The case took a twist when the housekeeper of Khawar Maneka, Muhammad Latif, claimed that Imran had an “illicit relationship” with Bushra. However, Imran denied the allegations, swearing on the Holy Quran that he saw Bushra’s face only on the day of his nikkah.