ISLAMABAD: A Rawalpindi court hearing Iddat case against PTI founding chairman Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi, indicted the couple on Tuesday, which Imran rejected as a ‘conspiracy’ against him and pleaded not guilty.
Senior Civil Judge Qudratullah framed the charges against the couple on a complaint filed by Bushra Bibi’s ex-husband Khawar Farid Maneka under Sections 34 (common intention), 496 (marriage ceremony fraudulently gone through without lawful marriage) and 496B (fornication) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
The hearing was conducted at Adiala Jail, where Imran is incarcerated. Ever since his arrest in August last year, the PTI founder has been indicted in multiple cases, including the Toshakhana reference, cypher case, and the contempt case against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Last week, despite being already incarcerated, Imran was arrested by RaÂwÂaÂlpindi police in at least a dozen cases of the May 9 violence, including the attack on the GeneÂral Headquarters (GHQ).
At the previous hearing, Judge Qudratullah had deferred the indictment in the Iddat case due to Bushra Bibi’s absence. Separately, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had reserved its order a day earlier on a petition seeking to stay trial proceedings in the case.
During the hearing today, Bushra Bibi and Imran appeared before Judge Qudratullah. However, the former first lady left the hearing midway citing health reasons.
 ‘All this is happening under London Plan’
“Did you understand the accusations?†the judge subsequently asked Imran. The PTI founder responded that he couldn’t understand the legal jargon but at the same time contended that “all this is happening under the London Planâ€.
“This case was filed under a planning, they want to dismantle my party,†Imran said. “They first pick up people, torture them and then ‘update their software’,†he alleged.
Imran also rejected the charges against him and pleaded not guilty.
Subsequently, the court adjourned the hearing till Jan 18 and summoned witnesses at the upcoming proceedings.
