In Islamabad, a district and sessions court presided over by Judge Shahrukh Arjumand has postponed its verdict on the legal challenges presented by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi.
The couple has contested charges in a case alleging their marriage was conducted in a manner inconsistent with Islamic practices. The decision is set to be announced on May 29.
During today’s court session, Judge Arjumand heard arguments from both sides before adjourning to his chambers, with the verdict still pending. Khan’s attorney, Salman Akram Raja, represented him, while Bushra Bibi’s legal representation included Usman Gul. Prosecutor Adnan Ali was also in attendance.
Further discussions were expected as Rizwan Abbasi, the attorney for Bushra Bibi’s former husband, Khawar Maneka, indicated he had yet to present his arguments due to not having access to certain necessary documents. Judge Arjumand requested that Abbasi submit his final arguments via video link.
Previously, a local court had dismissed a no-confidence motion filed by Maneka against Judge Arjumand about handling the appeals. Maneka accused the judge of partiality, a claim that led to an inquiry from Judge Arjumand about his reasons for such beliefs. In response, Maneka cited his family’s convictions that the judge would favour the accused. In this heated exchange, Khan’s lawyer argued that transferring the case to another court on these grounds could constitute contempt, noting that Justice Babar Sattar had already imposed a fine regarding the no-confidence motion.
This tension culminated in a fervent exchange between Maneka and Raja, after which Judge Arjumand dismissed the no-trust plea against him.
