Judge recuses himself from pronouncing verdict in Iddat case
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ISLAMABAD: (Suno News) An Islamabad district and sessions court judge Wednesday recused himself from pronouncing the reserved verdict on the appeals of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi against the sentence in the Iddat case.

Sessions court judge Shahrukh Arjumand also wrote a letter to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to transfer the case to another court.

In the letter, he said that the appeals of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were fixed for hearing and a verdict on those appeals was to be pronounced that day, but complainant Khawar Maneka had expressed no confidence in him.

He said that Khawar Maneka’s plea of no confidence had earlier been disposed of, but after he expressed his no confidence in him again, it would be inappropriate to pronounce the verdict.

Therefore, the IHC has been requested to transfer the case to another court, he added.

Earlier, complainant Khawar Maneka, along with his lawyer Rizwan Abbasi, appeared before the court.

The judge inquired from Rizwan Abbasi if he wanted to present his arguments in the case. Khawar Manika said to the judge, “I want to record my statements before the court. My lawyers cannot tell the court what happened to me. I will speak for myself.”

At this, the judge remarked: “Let the lawyer present his arguments first. After that, you [Khawar Manika] will be given an opportunity to speak.”

Khawar Maneka said, “I am from a village. My daughter’s fake divorce certificate was forged on social media. Imran Khan is the former prime minister, so he is treated leniently.”

He added his children were not aware of Bushra Bibi’s nikah with Imran Khan that took place on January 1. “I told them the iddat period is coming to an end on February 14 after which their marriage will be revealed, and it came to the fore on February 18.”

On the occasion, the court refrained Khawar Maneka from using inappropriate words against PTI founder Imran Khan.

Khawar Maneka further said that the ‘PTI armies’ hurled abuses at him, adding that even Bushra Bibi’s lawyer Usman Gill had threatened to throw him out of the court.

“Imran Khan picks up the Holy Quran on minor matters. I was not aware of what he was doing in my house. I still have messages with me from Jahangir Tareen stating ‘it’s all over’,” he added.

He further said, “I swear, my children did not know about their marriage before. How would I know that Imran Khan had secretly married my wife? I have been deceived. Are the servants of Allah like PTI?”

Later, Rizwan Abbasi said to the judge to transfer the case to another court.

PTI lawyer Gohar Ali Khan argued that Imran Khan was in jail, adding the court should pronounce the verdict.

Lawyer Usman Gill said they have complete trust in the court, adding they will accept any verdict given by the court. The sessions judge remarked any verdict now will be controversial.

At this, the PTI started chanting “shame, shame” in the courtroom due to which judge Shahrukh went back to his chamber without pronouncing any judgement.