An Islamabad court has acquitted former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in the iddat nikah case and also issued their release orders.
Additional Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka admitted the appeals and pronounced his reserved verdict. With the appeals admitted, the decision of the trial court was set aside.
Civil Judge Qudratullah had sentenced the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi each to seven years in jail and a fine of Rs500,000. Additional and Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka had reserved the judgment on the central appeals earlier in the day.
The judge also issued the release orders for both husband and wife. Main complainant Khawar Maneka's medical board application was also dismissed.
Both applications of the prosecution have been rejected. "If he is not required in any other case, the PTI founder should be released," the court ordered.
Written order
Later, Judge Majoka issued a 28-page written judgement on the central appeals of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi against their sentences in the iddat nikah case.
According to the judgement, complainant Khawar Maneka failed to prove his allegations that Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi got married during her iddat after divorce. According to Maneka's lawyer, his client was deprived of his right to recourse.
During cross-examination, Khawar Maneka himself admitted that he had received the news of the marriage of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi on the second day. "Maneka thought of filing a complaint after six years?" the decision questioned.
Hearing today
Earlier in the day, the District and Sessions Court Islamabad had reserved its decision on the central appeals against the sentences of PTI Founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in the iddat nikah case.
Also Read: Iddat nikah case: Decision reserved on Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi's central appeals
Additional Sessions Judge Afzal Majuka presided over the proceedings on the central appeals against the sentences of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi for getting married during her iddat period after her divorce from her former husband Khawar Maneka. Arguments were presented by Khawar Maneka's lawyer Zahid Asif and Imran Khan's lawyer Salman Akram Raja.
Maneka's lawyer emphasized that during the trial, the lawyers for PTI founder Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi said they had to present witnesses. "If they want to bring witnesses, then we have no objection. The court can take evidence at any time," said Asif.
He also argued that Mufti Saeed did not confirm that both parties adhered to Hanafi principles.
Salman Akram Raja, representing Imran Khan, argued that his client had got married and was unaware of the iddat, adding that the entire responsibility was being placed on Bushra Bibi.
The sentence
On February 3, a senior civil judge had pronounced the verdict in the iddat nikah case involving PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi.
Also Read: Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi sentenced to 7 years in jail, nikah declared anti-Shariah
Senior Civil Judge Qudratullah sentenced Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi to seven-year imprisonment each. Their nikah, said to have taken place during her iddat after divorce from former husband Khawar Maneka, was also declared against Shariah. Both he accused were also fined Rs500,000 each.
The decision was announced in Adiala Jail, where Imran Khan is already serving a sentence in both Toshakhana and cipher cases. Senior Civil Judge Qudratullah issued a 50-page judgment in the case. The defendants were found guilty under Section 496 of the PPC.
