The former prime minister Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi were indicted in the Iddat case by a Rawalpindi trial court. The charges included Sections 34 (common intention), 496 (marriage ceremony fraudulently gone through without lawful marriage) and 496B (fornication) of the Pakistan Penal Code. The hearing took place at Adiala Jail, where Imran is incarcerated. Despite being in jail, Imran was also arrested by Rawalpindi police in at least a dozen cases related to the May 9 violence.
At a previous hearing, Judge Qudratullah had deferred the indictment in the Iddat case due to Bushra Bibi’s absence. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) had reserved its order on a petition seeking to stay trial proceedings in the case.
During the hearing, Bushra Bibi and Imran appeared before the judge, but Bushra Bibi left the hearing midway citing health concerns. The court inquired about her departure, and the PTI lawyer filed a plea seeking permission for her exemption from the hearing. The court framed charges against the suspects in Bushra Bibi’s absence despite objections. Imran pleaded not guilty and the court adjourned the hearing till Jan 18.
The case involved Bushra Bibi’s ex-husband, Khawar Farid Maneka, who accused Imran Khan of intruding into his marital affair. He claimed that the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi developed illicit relations with each other before their marriage, contradicting Islamic teachings. Maneka accused Imran Khan of ruining his life and stigmatizing his family and brought the matter to court after considering it a family matter for some time.