The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has overruled the registrar's office's objections to the appeals filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi against their sentences in the ‘un-Islamic’ iddat nikah case.
Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb presided over the hearing and decided to combine the two applications, issuing a notice for June 13 to address Bushra Bibi's request for the suspension of her sentence.
During the proceedings, Justice Aurangzeb questioned the nature of the objections raised against the applications. PTI lawyer Salman Akram Raja emphasized that an administrative order should not hinder the pursuit of judicial relief.
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The petitioners' lawyer argued that the sessions judge had set the judgment date for the appeals on May 23, with the verdict expected on May 29. He confirmed that the court had reserved its verdict after the arguments were completed on May 23.
Justice Aurangzeb inquired if a written no-confidence motion filed against the judge on May 29. Salman Akram Raja responded that no such document was submitted in writing and that the first no-confidence motion was dismissed. He added that Judge Shahrukh Arjumand had rejected Khawar Maneka's request to transfer the case.
The court also questioned whether the sessions court's decision to reject the transfer request was challenged. Salman Akram Raja confirmed that it was not.
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The judge further queried whether it was appropriate to send a case back to a judge who has already recused himself from it. Salman Safdar, representing Bushra Bibi, stated that her request differed slightly from the main petition, emphasizing that no decision had yet been made on the appeal and the suspension of the sentence request in the sessions court.
The lawyer asserted that the Islamabad High Court holds the authority to issue an order to suspend the sentences. With the objections overruled and the appeals combined, the IHC will now consider the next steps in this high-profile case on June 13.
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