PTI Lawyer Sent to Judicial Custody in Khawar Maneka Attack Case
In Islamabad, Fatehullah Burki, a lawyer associated with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has been placed on judicial remand in connection with the assault on Khawar Maneka,
In Islamabad, Fatehullah Burki, a lawyer associated with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has been placed on judicial remand in connection with the assault on Khawar Maneka, the former husband of Bushra Bibi, outside a court, according to ARY News.
Appearing before Anti-terrorism court Judge Abul Hassanat Zulqarnain, Fatehullah Burki’s lawyer, Naeem Haidar Panjotha, opposed the police’s request for an extension of physical remand. Despite this, the court denied the physical remand plea and ordered Fatehullah Burki to be held on judicial remand.
Earlier, a case was filed against PTI lawyers for allegedly attacking Khawar Maneka outside the court premises. The FIR indicated that Khawar Maneka was assaulted by a group of 20-25 individuals, including Advocate Usman Riaz, Mirza Asim, Zahid Bashir, and Ansar Kiani, resulting in injuries to him.
The lawyers were accused of attempting to intimidate and influence judicial proceedings and were charged with terrorism and nine other offenses. According to the FIR, Fatehullah Burki led the lawyers in chanting slogans and physically assaulting Khawar Maneka, threatening his life.
Fatehullah Burki, Naeem Panjotha, and Advocate Ejaz Bhatti allegedly assaulted Khawar Maneka, while officials Irshad and Waheed attempted to intervene but were allegedly prevented from doing so by the lawyers. Fatehullah Burki also reportedly engaged in a dispute with Constable Khalid and tore his uniform.
The incident occurred during a court session presided over by Judge Shahrukh Arjumand, where Imran Khan, the founder of PTI, and his wife Bushra Bibi were presenting their case against a conviction related to a Nikah dispute.
In a separate development, bottles were reportedly thrown at Khawar Maneka by women outside the court following allegedly derogatory remarks made during the hearing.
Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi’s marriage, conducted in February 2018 in Lahore with Mufti Saeed officiating, has been a subject of legal contention. Khawar Maneka, Bibi’s former husband, had previously contested the marriage’s legality under Sharia law, alleging it violated the “iddat period” following their divorce and accusing them of extramarital relations.
Last year, Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment and fined Rs. 500,000 each in the case related to the alleged violation of Islamic laws pertaining to iddat.
