Iddat case: court dismisses plea seeking to halt proceeding

ISLAMABAD: A District and Sessions Court in Islamabad has dismissed a plea that sought to halt the proceeding against former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in the Iddat case.

The PTI founder is accused of marrying Bushra Bibi while she was going through ‘iddat’, a waiting period a Muslim woman observes following the termination of her previous marriage.

Read more: Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi indicted in alleged illegal nikah case

When Senior Civil Judge Qudratullah took up the case in Adiala jail, the petitioners’ counsel Usman Gil and Khalid Yusuf argued that the current court proceeding has already been challenged in the Islamabad High Court.

They argued that since the marriage did fall within the purview of this court and the proceeding should be halted until the IHC adjudicates their plea.

The counsel argued that Bushra Bibi was indicted on January 16 despite her absence from the court proceedings.

Read more: Bushra Bibi challenges ‘Nikah’ during ‘Iddat’ case in IHC

The civil judge responded that the court will look into the matter once the IHC passes a judgement.

The court adjourned the hearing till January 19 (tomorrow).