ISLAMABAD: Wife of PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan Bushra Bibi on Saturday filed an appeal in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against their conviction in a controversial Nikah case.
Both husband and wife were previously sentenced to seven years in jail and fined Rs500,000 each.
The appeal, lodged by Barrister Salman Safdar, requests the suspension of the sentence and the immediate release of Bushra Bibi on bail. In her petition, Bushra Bibi claims she is the victim of political victimisation and seeks expedited relief. Additionally, the petition urges the court to consider the plea for suspension of the sentence.
This legal move follows a recent decision on June 3 by the IHC to transfer the Nikah case involving Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi to another court after an objection was raised by Khawar Manika, Bushra Bibi’s former husband. The case has been reassigned to Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka.
During the last session on May 29, Manika’s counsel expressed a lack of confidence in the presiding judge, Shahrukh Arjumand, requesting the transfer of the case. Subsequently, Judge Arjumand penned a letter to the High Court, mentioning the delay tactics employed by the complainant’s lawyer and recommending the transfer of the case to expedite proceedings.
Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were accused of marrying within the three-month “iddat” period following her divorce, which is considered unlawful under Sharia law. The court ultimately ruled the marriage un-Islamic, leading to their convictions.
