ISLAMABAD: As an additional district and sessions judge (ADSJ) resumed hearing the pleas seeking suspension of sentences of former PM Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, in the Iddat case, the counsel for her ex-husband repeatedly sought an adjournment, trying to delay the case further.

Zahid Asif, the counsel for Bushra Bibi’s ex-husband, Khawar Fareed Maneka, requested ADSJ Afzal Majooka to adjourn the hearing since his client, who is the complainant in the instant case, was not present.

The counsel, however, submitted his power of attorney (wakalatnama) to the court.

The judge asked Mr Asif to conclude his arguments on the applications by June 25 as the court would then take up the main appeals against their convictions.

When Barrister Salman Akram Raja, the lead counsel for Imran Khan, began his arguments and suggested that the complainant’s lawyer take notes, the latter again requested an adjournment.

Barrister Raja argued that the complainant acknowledged the divorce, but disputed the duration of the Iddat period. According to Mr Maneka, the divorce occurred on Nov 14, 2017, whereas Imran Khan maintained that it took place in April 2017, the counsel explained. He said the trial court did not provide an opportunity to Bushra Bibi to explain her stance and hurriedly concluded the trial.

The counsel claimed that Mr Maneka changed his mind about six years after he was arrested and jailed for four months, adding that Mr Maneka was released from jail on Nov 14 last year, and he filed the complaint in the trial court on Nov 25.

Published in Dawn, June 22nd, 2024