Khawar Maneka, the ex-husband of Bushra Bibi, was attacked by lawyers affiliated with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) outside an Islamabad district and sessions court on Wednesday, Express News reported.
The incident occurred outside the court premises after the reserved verdict was not announced in the iddat case against the former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi.
During the hearing, Maneka made critical remarks against Imran Khan, which provoked a strong reaction from PTI supporters present in the courtroom.
Angry at Maneka for using "delaying tactics", PTI women members inside the courtroom began sloganeering against him. Some threw water bottles at him and even slapped him.
He was then assaulted outside the courtroom by a man said to be a PTI lawyer as a group of his counsels escorted him outside the court premises.
Read more: No verdict in Iddat case today as judge seeks transfer of appeals to another court
Video shows a lawyer punching Maneka, causing him to fall to the ground, while others chased after him intending to inflict more harm. Maneka’s own legal team intervened, managing to shield him and hastily escort him to safety.
Outside the courtroom, PTI workers continued their protest, loudly chanting slogans.
Today’s hearing
As the hearing commenced, an hour later than scheduled, Maneka appeared before the court along with his counsel Rizwan Abbasi.
The judge observed that prosecutor Abbasi was yet to present arguments on two points, following which he stepped onto the dais. However, Maneka requested the court for some time to present his arguments. At this, the judge asked him to let his counsel speak first. “My lawyer will not be able to explain my suffering. I will speak myself,” replied Maneka.
At this point, Bushra Bibi’s counsel Usman Gill urged the court to issue contempt notices to Maneka for interrupting court proceedings.
Maneka asked for 10 minutes of speaking time, saying he belonged to a village and that rumours were being spread about him and his daughter's divorce every day. “Fake divorce letters are being made and spread on social media,” the complainant maintained.
Read: Ulema term verdict in iddat case against Shariah
Maneka’s interruption irked the PTI counsels who got into a heated argument with the former. Judge Arjumand then intervened asking the lawyers if they wanted to create scene.
“Today, respect is being demanded for a person who has served as the former premier. Why not grant a poor man the same respect too?” asked Maneka as he compared himself to Imran.
“I am being threatened. Listen to this poor man. I don't believe in this court. I only believe in the Almighty. Think of me as a poor person, and realize what my family has suffered. My house has been destroyed,” he lamented.
He then asked the judge to not make a decision, alleging that he appeared to have been “influenced”.
Judge Arjumand remarked that it was not possible for him to transfer the case at this stage. However, he observed that any decision he now makes would be controversial. The judge then left the courtroom.
Judge Arjumand, later, wrote to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) regarding Maneka’s request to transfer the case. The judge noted that Maneka had expressed a lack of confidence in him during the proceedings today and previously as well.
The letter stated that Maneka and his legal team had caused unnecessary delays in the proceedings. The judge requested that the case be transferred to another judge and that IHC set a timeframe for resolving these appeals.
1716981169-0/Capture-(8)1716981169-0-270x192.webp "pti alleges pre planned delay in iddat case verdict")
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