Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka presided over the hearing of central appeals against the sentences handed to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in the iddat nikah case.
Despite extensive arguments, the court was unable to reach a decision even today, adjourning the hearing until Saturday morning.
During the proceedings, Judge Majoka remarked that both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi are followers of Hanafi jurisprudence, which stipulates that the right of recourse ends after the pronouncement of triple divorce. He emphasized that jurisprudence theories cannot be challenged in court.
Khawar Maneka’s lawyer argued that the judgements referenced by the PTI founder’s lawyers during the trial were based on different grounds and were not applicable to the current case. PTI lawyer Salman Safdar presented a decision before the court related to 100 days of iddat, noting that each criminal case involves distinct circumstances and reasons.
Maneka’s lawyer said an objection had been raised before the court that a civil case was being made instead of criminal, adding no appeal was filed for a civil case till date on behalf of both the suspects.
He mentioned former US president Bill Clinton, proposing that if Imran Khan apologized to the nation, his client, Khawar Maneka, might be willing to forgive him as well.
Judge Majoka remarked on a witness’s testimony, who claimed he had learned about the marriage a day later. He reiterated that under Hanafi jurisprudence, the right of recourse ends after divorce, and such doctrines cannot be contested in court.
Consequently, the judge noted that an iddat case might not hold up under these principles. The court adjourned the hearing until Saturday morning, leaving the fate of the appeals undecided for now.
