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My Life’s on the Line: Imran Khan

Imran Khan alleged that Pakistan’s powerful military leadership could make an attempt to eliminate him…reports Hamza Ameer

Former Pakistan Prime Minister and chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, Imran Khan has said that the country’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir should be held directly responsible if anything happens to him or his wife.

In an article written from the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, Khan alleged that Pakistan’s powerful military leadership could make an attempt to eliminate him.

Serving a jail term in various cases of corruption, incitement to violence and matters of national security, Khan alleged in his piece written for the UK’s Telegraph that all the charges levelled against him are politically motivated.

“All that is left for them now is to murder me,” he wrote.

Khan wrote that Pakistan has become a “laughing stock” in front of the whole world after conducting flawed elections on February 8. He also mentioned that the 240 million people of the country are angry over the way their voices and support, broadly represented through the power of vote, has been ridiculed.

“The people have shown in no uncertain terms their rejection of state electoral machinations and of the oppression, incarceration and torture of not just the PTI leadership but also of its workers,” he wrote.

“The military leadership has been subjected to overt criticism at a level unseen before in our history. The government is a laughing stock,” he added.

Slamming Pakistan’s military establishment, he stated specifically that the Army Chief General Asim Munir is doing everything to keep him out of politics.

“The establishment has done all they could against me. All that is left for them is to now murder me. I have stated publicly that if anything happens to me or my wife, the Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir will be responsible,” he wrote.

“But I am not afraid because my faith is strong. I would prefer death over slavery,” he added.

Khan said that the only way to get Pakistan out of the current crisis is “to restore the people’s mandate and release all political prisoners including those being held for trial under military courts”.

Khan’s opinion piece has again established his strong and rigid opposition against the military establishment, especially against the current Army Chief General Asim Munir.

It is also a fact that the former PM was not in favor of the appointment of General Munir as the country’s army chief and launched a long march from Lahore to Rawalpindi, smartly delaying it to assert political and public pressure while blocking Munir’s appointment.

He has also blamed the previous military chief General (Retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa for facilitating his government’s opposition alliance, which led to his ouster through a Vote of No Confidence (VONC). Since then, Pakistan’s political outlook has been in shambles with ongoing protests, rallies and campaigns being launched by PTI against the military establishment and the ruling governments.

Last May, the PTI workers stormed military installations in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi and other parts of the country, in protest against the arrest of their leader.

The authorities also launched a similar crackdown against the PTI workers and leaders, blocking their election campaigns during the February 2024 elections, paving the way for Shehbaz Sharif, leader of Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz (PML-N) to become the country’s Prime Minister.

Khan is serving a jail term of three years in a corruption case and a 14-year term for the Toshakhana case besides an additional 10-year jail term for revealing state secrets.

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Court orders medical checkup of Imran Khan, wife

The court stressed the importance of decorum, suggesting addressing the media after the hearing, to which Khan stated that the jail administration removes the media from the courtroom after the hearing…reports Asian Lite News

The Islamabad accountability court has accepted the requests for the medical examination of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, and directed Bushra Bibi’s endoscopy in a private hospital within two days, The Express Tribune reported.

The decision was made during a hearing presided by Accountability Court Judge Nasir Javed Rana at Adiala Jail regarding the 190 million-pound scam reference.

Further, in an official post on X, PTI said, ” The jail authorities, under the control of the illegitimate regime, have repeatedly overruled court orders.”

In addition to the statement, PTI stated, “What remains to be seen is whether they will comply with the court orders this time or not.”

Moreover, during the hearing, Judge Rana ordered an endoscopy for Bushra Bibi, to be supervised by Dr Asim Younus of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital along with a government doctor, as per The Express Tribune.

Additionally, the judge instructed the presentation of six witnesses related to the reference at the next hearing.

During the proceedings, Judge Nasir Javed Rana ordered the removal of wooden barriers from the courtroom.

Following an hour-long break, the jail authorities removed all additional sheets.

According to The Express Tribune, concerns were also raised during the proceedings by defence lawyers regarding the difficulties faced by journalists in reporting the case. The judge addressed these concerns by inviting media representatives and Imran Khan to the rostrum, subsequently instructing the jail administration to take necessary steps.

During the proceedings, Imran Khan said that toilet cleaner had been mixed into Bushra Bibi’s food, causing daily stomach irritation, as reported by The Express Tribune.

The court advised Imran Khan to refrain from holding “press conferences” during the hearings.

In response, the PTI founder stated his statements were misquoted and he spoke to reporters to clarify them, The Express Tribune reported.

The court stressed the importance of decorum, suggesting addressing the media after the hearing, to which Khan stated that the jail administration removes the media from the courtroom after the hearing.

He also requested that the court allow him a 10-minute interaction with the media after the hearings.

Earlier on April 15, Bushra Bibi, filed a petition before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and requested the court conduct her check-up and medical tests at Shaukat Khanum Hospital or any other private hospital of her choice to examine if she was poisoned through contaminated food, Pakistan-based Dawn reported.

In her petition, Bushra Bibi said that she is suffering from heartburn, and aches in her throat and mouth and that she believes that it is the result of eating poisonous meals.

Imran Khan’s wife said that she was poisoned and subjected to psychological torture at her Banigala residence, which has been declared a sub-jail, as per the Dawn report. (ANI)

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Imran Khan Faces IMF Snub

In another setback to Imran Khan, IMF refuses to interfere in Pakistan’s electoral dispute, reports Asian Lite News

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has refused to interfere in Pakistan’s domestic policies after Imran Khan-founded Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf demanded it review the country’s February 8 polls before sanctioning any new economic package, the Express Tribune reported.

However, the IMF has encouraged Islamabad to hold ‘fair resolution’ of all electoral disputes.

This comes after incarcerated former PM Imran Khan penned a letter to the IMF, urging the global lender to give the poll results a thorough once-over before cutting any new cheques for Islamabad.

“If the country gets a loan in such a situation, then who will return it?” he questioned, expressing concerns that such a loan could lead to an increase in poverty.

Khan warned that without substantial investment in the country, the burden of loans would continue to rise, underscoring the need for political stability.

While breaking its silence on the PTI’s attempt to involve the global lender in political matters, an IMF spokesperson instead showed readiness to negotiate the next medium-term programme with the newly-elected government.

“The IMF, as an international institution with a narrow mandate on economic issues, does not comment on domestic political developments,” said the IMF spokesperson while commenting on the letter written by the PTI.

The IMF said that it received a letter from a PTI spokesperson on February 28 regarding the Fund’s engagement with Pakistan under the programme, as reported by Express Tribune.

Notably, PTI has throughout termed the Feb 8 polls as ‘disputed’ while alleging a lack of ‘level playing field’. The party claims to have won about 177 seats as against 92, which were notified by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) as independently elected members of the National Assembly. The PTI has also claimed to have documentary evidence of rigging in the elections and demanded that the IMF should play a role in conducting the investigations.

“Given the importance of the institutional environment for economic stability and growth, we do encourage the fair and peaceful resolution of all electoral disputes,” said the IMF spokesperson.

The IMF’s current USD 3 billion short-term bailout package is expiring before the middle of next month and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has already given a go-ahead to the Finance Ministry to begin discussions for signing a new Extended Fund Facility (EFF).

The last EFF had expired in June without the disbursement of the USD 2.6 billion loan amount due to Pakistan’s failure to meet the programme conditions.

The last loan tranche of $1.2 billion of the current programme remains undisbursed and the IMF is waiting for the formation of the federal cabinet before sending a mission to Pakistan.

“We look forward to engaging with the new government to complete the second review under the current Stand-by Arrangement and, should the government request, support the formulation of a new medium-term economic programme,” according to the IMF spokesperson.

The spokesperson said that the IMF’s aim is to support the implementation of strong policies to deepen financial stability, address long-standing economic and underlying balance of payments challenges, and restore sustained and inclusive growth for the benefit of all Pakistani citizens, Express Tribune reported. (ANI)

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PTI Threatens to Disrupt Assembly Unless They Get ‘Due Rights’

PTI leader Junaid Akbar said: “We do not recognise this assembly. We will neither legislate nor allow it [in the House].

Coming down hard on the ruling alliance, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Junaid Akbar warned that they would not let the National Assembly function until provision of their “due rights,” Geo News reported on Friday.

The PTI leader, who is also a Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) lawmaker, made the remarks during his fiery speech at the second session of the newly elected lower house of parliament.

Taking the floor, Akbar said: “We do not recognise this assembly. We will neither legislate nor allow it [in the House].

Notably, the Imran Khan-founded party has claimed that its mandate was “stolen” during the February 8 general elections. It has termed the polls “rigged” and accused the caretaker government of denying a ‘level playing field’ in the run-up to elections.

“A market [of horse-trading] was set up at the Sindh House and consciences [of lawmakers] were bought,” Akbar said firing a fresh salvo at the Pakistan Peoples Party. “Some were threatened, some were shown their videos.”

Highlighting the cases of alleged discrimination with the PTI, the lawmaker said that his party was stripped of its electoral symbol ‘bat’ in the garb of May 9 mayhem.

He also alleged that two assassination attempts were made on the life of the PTI founder.

Some 34 PTI supporters were killed on May 9 and FIRs were also lodged against the leadership of Khan-founded party, he added. “Sedition cases were registered against me and my friends.”

The May 9 riots were triggered almost across the country after the deposed prime minister’s arrest in the 190-million-pound settlement case. Hundreds of PTI workers and senior leaders were put behind bars for their involvement in violence and attacks on military installations, according to Geo News.

During the protests, the miscreants targeted the civil and military installations including — Jinnah House and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. The military termed May 9 “Black Day” and decided to try the miscreants under the Army Act.

(Photo: Instagram)

Talking about the alleged rigging in the February 8 general elections, the PTI leader said that those who suffered defeat as per Form 45 were sitting in the House.

He also vowed to hold the ruling alliance accountable for “violating” the constitution and harming the country.

The PTI urged the government and Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa to launch a fresh inquiry to ascertain the beneficiary of the May 9 violence, Geo News reported. (ANI)

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Imran Seeks IMF Election Audit Before New Loan

Former PM Imran Khan warned that the loan would lead to more poverty and add to the country’s burden.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former Prime Minister, Imran Khan, confirmed on Friday that he had sent a letter to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) demanding that it hold an audit of the election results before approving any new loan for Islamabad, The News International reported.

“The letter has been written to the IMF and will be dispatched today. If the country gets a loan in such a situation, then who will return it?” PTI leader told media during a hearing of the £190 million reference at Adiala Jail.

The former PM warned that the loan would lead to more poverty and add to the country’s burden.

According to the News International report, Khan’s update about the letter comes a day after PTI senator Ali Zafar announced that the party founder had decided to write to the global lender urging it to call for an audit of the February 8 election before it continues talks with Islamabad for a new loan programme.

However, the IMF, on Saturday, expressed willingness to work with the new Pakistani government, ignoring his demand, the news report stated.

Meanwhile, former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said the letter holds no significance, adding that if the PTI founder has written against the country’s national interest then it is condemnable.

“Writing anything for personal gain is shameful. PTI founder’s letter will have no significance,” Dar, a senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), told media outside the Punjab Assembly.

Pakistan’s former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar

Pakistan secured a short-term USD 3 billion programme from the IMF last year which helped to avert a sovereign debt default. It will run out next month and securing a new and much bigger one is widely seen as the priority for the new administration, Geo News reported.

With the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and their allies striking a deal to form a coalition government, the PTI and some other political parties have altogether rejected the elections and announced country-wide protests.

The PTI has demanded election results be issued based on Form 45–the results of a single polling station instead of Form 47–the consolidated results of a constituency, as the party claimed the votes were rigged after its Independent candidates won a simple majority in the National Assembly. (ANI)

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Imran Calls Feb 8 Polls as ‘Mother of All Rigging’

Imran’s sister, Aleema Khan, conveyed his message after meeting him at Adiala Jail today, where he labelled the electoral process as the epicentre of widespread rigging….reports Asian Lite News

In a message from jail, former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the recent elections on February 8 were marred by the “mother of all riggings,” both before and after the polls, Dawn reported.

Imran’s sister, Aleema Khan, conveyed his message after meeting him at Adiala Jail today, where he labelled the electoral process as the epicentre of widespread rigging.

During a subsequent media briefing, Aleema lamented that the public’s mandate had been “stolen” in the aftermath of the elections. Imran, she stated, vehemently condemned the suspension of internet services, alleging that it was a deliberate tactic to “hide the real results.”

Aleema further disclosed Imran’s concerns about the safety of the former Rawalpindi commissioner and emphasised his desire for resolution, stating, “Now Khan sahib wants all this to end… he demands the real mandate of the public should be handed over.”

Meanwhile, expressing apprehensions over the well-being of former first lady Bushra Bibi during her detention at Bani Gala, the PTI raised alarms about “serious threats” to her health.

The party warned that any harm befalling Imran Khan’s wife would be attributed to the Adiala Jail authorities. In an official statement, the PTI asserted that Bushra Bibi was enduring “intense pain” due to allegedly being served “poisoned food” and highlighted that she was denied access to her family or a medical professional.

Moreover, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has intensified its call for the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, holding him responsible for the alleged failure to ensure free, fair, and transparent general elections in 2024, as reported by ARY News.

Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, representing PTI, conveyed the party’s demand after a meeting with party founder Imran Khan in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail, stating, “Incumbent CEC (Sikandar Sultan Raja) has now become a controversial personality as he failed to stop rigging in elections; PTI demands CEC Raja to resign immediately.”

Accusing the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) of failing in its responsibility, Khan called for an investigation into Liaquat Ali Chatha’s allegations and the conduct of the February 8 elections. He asserted that CEC Raja’s resignation would contribute to a non-controversial inquiry into the reported irregularities on February 8. (ANI)

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Imran Khan Granted Bail in 12 Riot Cases

Imran was also granted bail in the GHQ and Army Museum attacks, with the court requiring a PKR0.1 million surety bond in all 12 cases….reports Asian Lite News

Former Pakistan Prime Minister, Imran Khan was granted bail in 12 cases related to May 9 riots by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi, The Express Tribune reported.

Additionally, Khan’s close aide and the former foreign minister of Pakistan, Shah Mahmud Qureshi was granted bail in 13 cases, the daily reported.

Imran was also granted bail in the GHQ and Army Museum attacks, with the court requiring a PKR0.1 million surety bond in all 12 cases.

The bail applications were considered by ATC Judge Malik Ejaz Asif. The court ruled that there was no rationale for keeping the PTI founder in custody, and all suspects in the May 9 cases were granted bail.

Imran and Qureshi were indicted as per charges on February 6. The duo was brought before the court, and the former prime minister informed the judge that he had been unjustly arrested on May 9 from the grounds of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), according to The Express Tribune.

Imran was booked in many cases relating to the rioting that erupted throughout the country on May 9, following his detention in a corruption case. The complaints filed in Rawalpindi included an attack on the gate of General Headquarters (GHQ), rioting at a sensitive institution’s office, and other incidents.

He rejected the claims included in the cases’ first information reports (FIRs).

It should be mentioned that, following his release from Adiala jail, PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi was hauled away by Punjab police in connection with the attack on the GHQ, according to The Express Tribune.

In July last year, a high-level joint investigative team (JIT) looking into the May 9 violence decided to designate the former premier in two terrorist cases, including an attack on GHQ.

With the inclusion of new sections to the proceedings, the PTI head was charged with planning and inciting violence.

The bail has been granted to Imran Khan at a time when the results of the Pakistan General Elections that took place on February 8 are highly anticipated.

The counting for the elections held on Thursday is underway, and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has emerged as the single-largest party but is trailing behind the independent candidates, mostly backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI).

Meanwhile, amid the Election Commission of Pakistan drawing flak over the delay in declaration of the results of the general elections, former PM and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan on Saturday released a ‘victory speech’ in his AI-enabled voice, saying that the ‘London Plan’ of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif failed with the massive turnout of voters on polling day, as he also claimed victory in the general elections.

Moreover, Nawaz Sharif also announced his intention to form a united government with the help of his former allies – Pakistan Peoples Party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (Pakistan) amid a fractured mandate. (ANI)

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‘Neck-and-Neck’ in Pakistan

As per ECP, PTI-baked independents are leading on 28 seats, followed by a tight contest between PML-N (19 seats) and PPP (18 seats)….reports Asian Lite News

As the counting for the Pakistan general elections progresses, the independent candidates backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) are leading with 73 seats in a tight contest with two major parties, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistani local media reported.

According to the unofficial results called by Geo News for 163 out of total 266 seats, PTI-backed independent candidates are leading on 73 seats, followed by PML-N on 48 and PPP on 35.

However, the provisional results have only been released for 72 seats by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Dawn reported.

As per ECP, PTI-baked independents are leading on 28 seats, followed by a tight contest between PML-N (19 seats) and PPP (18 seats).

Among major candidates, three-time former PM and front-runner Nawaz Sharif won from the NA-130 constituency in Lahore with 1,71,024 votes.

However, in a major surprise, he lost in the NA-15 constituency in Mansehra against PTI-backed independent Gustasap Khan, according to ARY News.

Nawaz Sharif’s daughter, Maryam Nawaz won the NA-119 seat from Lahore. Former PM Shehbaz Sharif also won from the PP-158 seat in Lahore.

Among PPP leaders, former President Asif Ali Zardari and former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also won from their respective seats in NA-207 and NA-196.

Notably, Imran Khan was disqualified from contesting the elections due to criminal convictions. The electoral symbol of the PTI was also taken away by the ECP, in a ruling later backed by the Pakistan apex court. As a result, the PTI leaders and supporters contested as independent candidates, Dawn reported.

Local media outlets in Pakistan today started reporting the results of the polls conducted in the national and provincial assemblies that began at 8 am on February 8 and was conducted by 5 pm on the same day.

Pakistan’s Interior Ministry today said delay in election results, which was supposed to be out by Friday morning, was due to a “lack of connectivity,” which it stressed was the result of preventive measures taken to ensure foolproof security. (ANI)

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Imran Khan’s PTI Faces Crisis as Nomination Papers Rejected

The PTI also lost its electoral symbol ‘bat’ leaving the party’s nominated candidates with no other option but to contest as independent candidates…reports Asian Lite News

Future of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which emerged as a major political party in the country in the 2013 general polls, is in the doldrums as nomination papers of several party leaders, including founder Imran Khan, have been rejected by the Election Commission of Pakistan over corruption charges.

Though Khan, former prime minister, is languishing in jail on charges of corruption and misplacement of secret document for 14 years and 10 years respectively, he enjoys love and support of many.

The PTI also lost its electoral symbol ‘bat’ leaving the party’s nominated candidates with no other option but to contest as independent candidates.

With PTI and its leader Imran Khan out of the picture, many believe that the tone for the polls has already been set as the country heads towards another process of “selection” rather than “election”.

It is believed that the May 9, 2023 riots, triggered after the arrest of Khan in Islamabad, which saw angry party supporters storming military installations across the country, became the prime reason for the downfall of PTI and its leadership.

“The military establishment under COAS (Chief of Army Staff) General Syed Asim Munir seems to have decided to dismantle and destroy PTI as part of their punishment for attacking military installations on 9th May,” said senior political analyst Javed Siddique.

“We see an open, blatant and targeted dismantling of PTI, its workers, its leaders and its founder as anyone and everyone who tries to even come out of their home with a PTI flag are taken into custody. The party is not allowed to hold even a corner meeting for political campaigning. Its candidates are now contesting polls under multiple election symbols in independent capacity. It is almost clear to all now that PTI has been kept out of these elections deliberately,” he added.

A different version of analysis on PTI still remains that while it may not be contesting the upcoming elections, the party itself may be a major asset for the military establishment after the formation of the new elected government.

“PTI and Khan have proven many interesting facts about themselves. There are a set of people who follow Khan more than the party’s policy. They have also proven that they are not equipped or competent to run a national government. But they have also proven that they can send shockwaves in any government through protests, street power shows, resistance campaigns and long marches, which in the past have proven to be very effective and have kept ruling governments on their toes,” said political analyst Ayub Khan.

“So I think that PTI may not have any say in the upcoming polls, but it certainly is a major tool for the military establishment or even for itself to cause serious damage to any ruling governments. And that is what I think now, will keep the presence of PTI alive in the future,” he added.

“It is an open secret in Pakistan that the former PTI chief’s followers and supporters have been silenced but are still intact. The ongoing targeted cleansing operation against the party, its leaders and supporters may have yielded results for the polls, but it certainly cannot be sustained for long,” he said.

Many people are of the view that soon after the general elections, the former prime minister will be out and emerge more stronger. He will challenge the ruling government through big rallies and anti-government long marches, a tool that the country’s powerful military establishment would always want to keep in its backup plan.

ALSO READ-Imran Khan, wife get 7-year jail for unlawful marriage

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Imran Khan, wife get 7-year jail for unlawful marriage

The couple were present in the courtroom when the verdict was announced

A trial court has handed seven-year sentences each to former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in the “un-Islamic nikah” case at the Adiala jail on Saturday, Pakistan-based Geo News reported.

The court has also asked Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi to pay a fine of Pakistani Rupees (PKR) 500,000 each. The couple were present in the courtroom when the verdict was announced, according to Geo News report.

Senior civil judge Qudratullah announced the verdict today. The decision was announced a day after the hearing of the case was conducted inside the jail premises for 14 hours. The court had reserved its decision after the arguments were completed on Friday.

The judge pronounced the court’s verdict in a case related to the plea registered by Bushra Bibi’s former husband, Khawar Maneka against what he refers to as an un-Islamic and illegal nikah with Imran Khan.

So far, cross-examination of the statements given by the four witnesses in the case has been completed, Geo News reported. The statements of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi under Section 342 have been recorded.

During the court’s hearing on Friday, the complainant’s lawyer Raja Rizwan Abbasi and Khan’s lawyer Salman Akram Raja and Bushra Bibi’s counsel Usman Gul also gave their final arguments.

In his petition, Khawar Maneka had called Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi’s nikkah “fraudulent” and stressed that the marriage was solemnised during her iddat after her divorce from him.

The petition filed by Maneka reads, “That above said nikah and the marriage ceremony was neither legal nor Islamic as it was solemnised without observing iddah period,” according to the Geo News report.

Khawar Maneka accused Imran Khan of ruining his entire life. In the petition, he mentioned that PTI founder “stigmatised the complainant and his family just to achieve his unethical and immoral objects through intrusion in the complainant’s peaceful marital life.”

He requested the court to summon Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi and punish them in accordance with the law.

“In light of the above, it is humbly prayed that respondents No.1 [Imran Khan] and 2 [Bushra Bibi] be summoned and punished strictly in accordance with law in the interest of justice,” Maneka requested the court. (ANI)

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