Bushra Bibi married Imran during Iddat period: Nikkah registrar

A recent court hearing in Islamabad has shed light on the controversy surrounding the Nikkah (Islamic marriage) between former prime minister Imran Khan and his current wife, Bushra Bibi.

Mufti Saeed, the cleric who solemnised the couple's Nikkah, has now claimed that the initial ceremony was not conducted in accordance with Islamic Sharia law, as it occurred during the iddat period of Bushra Bibi.

The iddat period is a waiting period that a Muslim woman must observe on account of the death of her husband or dissolution of the marriage.

The alleged un-Islamic Nikkah of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi was brought to light by a petition filed by Muhammad Hanif, a citizen of Pakistan. The hearing was presided over by Senior Civil Judge Nasr Minullah Baloch.

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Mufti Saeed, who is 62 years old and serves as the principal of a seminary, mentioned having a positive relationship with Imran Khan and being a part of his core committee. He claimed that he was taken by Imran Khan to Lahore's DHA to officiate the couple's Nikkah in 2018.

According to him, a woman claiming to be Bushra Bibi's sister had assured him that all the Sharia requirements for her marriage had been fulfilled and that she and Imran Khan were free to wed.

Saeed stated that he officiated the marriage between Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi on January 1, 2018, based on the assurance of the woman. Following the wedding, the couple began living together in Islamabad, he added.

However, Imran Khan contacted him again in February 2018 and requested him to conduct the Nikkah again, saying that at the time of their first Nikkah, Bushra Bibi's iddat period had not been completed as she was divorced in November 2017. Therefore, Imran Khan deemed their first Nikkah to be not in accordance with Sharia.

Saeed claimed that Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were aware of the situation and arranged their Nikkah and marriage ceremony accordingly. He also alleged that Imran Khan had confided in him that he believed marrying Bushra would lead to him becoming the prime minister.

He further said that petitioner Muhammad Hanif approached him after Taraweeh prayers on the fourth day of Ramazan and inquired about the marriage of Imran and Bushra, to which he revealed the details.

The court has adjourned further hearings on the case until April 19.