Bushra Bibi’s former husband Khawar Maneka has alleged that ex-prime minister Imran Khan’s lawyers were trying to legalise ‘un-Islamic’ practices within the 39-day Iddat (waiting) period after divorce.

“The issue of iddat and Bushra Bibi’s case is being politically dealt with, moving away from the commands of Allah and His Messenger (Peace Be Upon Him),” he said at a press conference in Islamabad on Tuesday. He claimed that certain social media platforms have heavily targeted him, his children, and his family.

Last month, an Islamabad district and sessions court turned down the pleas of Khan and his wife Bibi to suspend their seven-year sentences in the Iddat case. Earlier this year, an Islamabad court had convicted the couple based on a complaint filed Maneka, who alleged that they contracted marriage during the former first lady’s Iddat period.

In an interview with Geo News on November 21, 2023, Maneka accused Khan of ruining his life and said that he was having a happy married life before Khan met his ex-wife in Lahore under the garb of “peeri mureedi” (spiritual guidance).

Khan married Bushra Maneka, a respected Pir [faith healer] in Pakpattan, on February 18, 2018. According to media reports, the marriage ceremony was held at the residence of Bushra’s brother in Lahore.

At the press conference, Maneka played a video to explain the Islamic teachings regarding Iddat. He said: “This video contains the information that the people of our country should be following, and practising Muslims do adhere to these principles.”

Maneka alleged that in the current 39-day Iddat period, unlawful acts related to remarriage were being pushed to be legalised. He expressed his concern over this deviation from the Sharia law and called upon the nation to be aware of these developments.

Maneka said that The News journalist Omar Cheema broke the news of Khan’s third marriage marriage. He added that no one questioned the former prime minister about his third marriage with Bibi.

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Maneka stated that the issue had been turned into a “political problem” and questioned where the nation was heading. He revealed that he divorced to Bibi on November 14, 2017 and informed his children about it on December 1.

According to him, the aides of the former PM lied about Khan’s marriage. Maneka raised concerns over the legal push to allow marriage within a 39-day Iddat, which he believes goes against the teachings of Allah and the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).

He added that lawyers of Khan and Bibi have been advocating for the 39-day Iddat period, but the reasons behind it were unclear. He speculates that there may be a medical certificate or medical issue that necessitated the hasty marriage on January 1 and then again on February 18.