In a case involving former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, the Islamabad District and Sessions Court has said that the hearings should be over by July 8.

Additional Sessions Judicial Afzal Majoka heard the couple’s main appeals against their punishments in the case.

Attorney Salman Akram Raja, who represents the founder of the PTI, said in court that the Supreme Court has protected women when it comes to iddat. He emphasized that the 90 days after a divorce should be seen as a chance for the couple to get back together, not as a way to target women.

While Raja was questioning Mufti Saeed’s claims, he pointed out problems with his testimony. “Mufti Saeed also said that a woman’s word is final regarding iddat, but then gave a false statement in the court,” he told us more.

In his video statement, Khawar Maneka, Bushra Bibi’s ex-husband, said she was his ex-wife, which was not true, he said. While Aon Chaudhry was stood next to Mufti Saeed, Raja said, Saeed told the trial court that he did not know the witnesses.

“If we put the entire record in front of us, it is clear that political cases have been made against Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi,” he added.

Furthermore, Khawar Maneka’s lawyer asked for a delay until July 5 because he had to be in the high court at that time.

That request was granted, and the court told Raja and Barrister Salman Safdar to finish their points by the following Monday. Moreover, Maneka’s legal team was told to give their cases on either July 4 or 8. According to the court, the case would be over by July 8.

Recently, Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi’s appeals against their convictions in the iddat nikah case were turned down by the court. Judge Afzal Majoka stated in a reserved ruling that the requests for sentence suspension were denied.

Despite their appeals being turned down, the couple’s term is still in effect. The PTI’s plan is to immediately appeal the ruling in the Islamabad High Court.

The judge issued a 10-page order saying that neither of the suspects had a good reason to have their sentences stopped. “Bushra Bibi being a woman is not a justification for suspension of sentence and her release on bail,” it said further.