ISLAMABAD: The decision on the appeals filed by former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi against their conviction in the Iddat case was postponed by a district and sessions court on Thursday. It is expected that the verdict will be made public on May 29. During the Thursday appeals session, Raja Rizwan Abbasi, the complainant Khawar Fareed Maneka’s lead attorney, was not present in court. In front of District and Sessions Judge Shahrukh Arjumand, defense attorney Usman Gill and the prosecution wrapped up their arguments.
The judge instructed his associate to get in touch with Rizwan Abbasi and let him know that he can wrap up his arguments in person or through a video link. But the court withheld its judgment when Mr. Abbasi did not show up. Politically driven religious figures who support the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) characterized the case as a politically motivated fabrication that goes against the principles of the Sunnah and the Holy Quran. They emphasized in a joint video statement that any decision regarding Iddat should be based on the woman’s testimony, which is deemed trustworthy and sufficient in this case.
Sunni Ittehad Council Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Majlis Wahdat Muslimeen leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, and Pir Noorul Haq Qadri said that they had consulted religious scholars from all schools of thought and came to the conclusion that the Iddat case was a politically motivated conspiracy with no basis in law, morality, or religion.mBecause it was a religious issue, they maintained, they would have said the appropriate thing even if they had disagreed with Imran Khan. According to Mr. Qadri, the woman’s evidence was deemed sufficient and ought to be accepted in cases like Iddat. He called on the government and the judiciary to give up on initiatives to destroy marriage and family life and undermine the foundation of society.
All religious experts, he said, should reject these “conspiracies” and publicly denounce them, regardless of their political viewpoint. In such delicate theological matters about which they know very little, the judges should not meddle, according to Mr. Abbas. made demand that the judge who sentenced the PTI founder and his spouse be asked about his familiarity with Islam and religious beliefs. According to Mr. Raza, their position was not what they were saying, but rather a result of extensive discussion with academics from several universities.
Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi, however, were unable to finish their appeals against their conviction in the cipher case because the special prosecutor for the FIA needed more time to finish his case. To wrap up his arguments, Special Prosecutor Syed Zulfiqar Abbasi Naqvi requested one hour from Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb of the Islamabad High Court division bench. Around 3 p.m., the hearing began. The prosecutor responded that he would require at least a further hour when the chief justice asked Mr. Naqvi how long he would take to wrap up his arguments after approximately an hour and a half.
Judge Aurangzeb noted that the judges are expected to make orders in the evening and that the court operates on a strict schedule. Barrister Salman Safdar, the defense attorney, told the court that he would need forty-five minutes to refute the prosecution’s claims. Further hearing on the subject was then postponed until May 28.
