Imran divorced Reham on Bushra Bibi's insistence, testifies Aun Chaudhry
Pakistan
Says the Nikkah of PTI chief and his current wife was performed during latter's Iddat period
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan had parted ways with his second wife Rehman Khan at the urging of Bushra Bibi, a close aide of the former prime minister told a court during his testimony.
Aun Chaudhry, who is currently serving as an adviser to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, recorded his statement to Senior Civil Judge Nasrum Minallah during the hearing of a petition seeking action against Mr Khan for tying the knot with her present spouse without waiting for the completion of her Iddat period.
Saying he was political and personal assistant of the PTI chief, Mr Chaudhry claimed both Mr Khan and Bushra Bibi were aware of the incomplete Iddat period at the time of their Nikkah in January 2018. He said Mr Khan divorced Reham after Bushra Bibi managed to convince him that it would be better for his future, adding that the former premier had sent the divorce deed to her second wife through e-mail as Reham was abroad at that time.
He said the PTI chief was reeling under mental stress after the divorce, adding that on Dec 31, 2017 Mr Khan asked him to make arrangements for his marriage with Bushra Bibi on Jan 1, 2018.
“I expressed surprise at that time as Bushra Bibi was a married woman, but Mr Khan assured me that she had parted ways with her husband,” Aun Chaudhry testified. He said when Mufti Saeed, another witness in the case, asked Mr Khan about the divorce, the latter said he would provide the deed in this regard later.
However, it emerged later that the Nikkah was solemnised before the expiry of Iddat period, he said, adding that the second Nikkah was later arranged on Feb 18, 2018.
Mr Chaudhry claimed that the PTI chief had told him that the reason for performing the Nikkah in haste was that Bushra Bibi had predicted that he would become the prime minister if they tied the knot on first day of 2018.
After recording the statement, the judge adjourned the hearing till May 10.
