Bushra Bibi demanded Imran Khan’s Bani Gala residence in Haq Mehr but later settled for the Zaman Park house of the PTI chairman, according to his former close aide Aun Chaudhry.
Columnist Javed Chaudhry says Aun made the revelation to him during a recent informal meeting at the latter’s house.
“Imran Khan agreed to Bibi’s demand, but I was against it and quite adamant too, so I refused to proceed with it despite the former premier’s insistence,” Aun said.
According to him, Farah alias Gogi was the messenger between the two sides. The residence comprised a 7-kanal plot, in addition to the main property.
Finally, he added, the two sides agreed on that plot and the Zaman Park residence as Haq Mehr, and the Nikah was solemnised.
To the question as to when Bibi got her divorce, Aun replied, “On Nov 14, 2016.” When asked if Bibi got married during her Iddat, he said, “Yes, and that is why we kept the Nikah a secret initially.”
When asked if Mufti Saeed got the divorce papers verified, Imran’s former aide said, “No, we never got those papers.”
Aun quoted Bibi as saying that she didn’t have the said papers since she had been given a divorce ‘under Sharia’.
Khan Sahib, he maintained, spent that night with his new wife, adding that the next morning, he and the PTI chief traveled to Islamabad on Jahangir Tareen’s plane to appear in ATC Islamabad for a hearing.
To a question on who informed journalist Umar Cheema about it, “We were amazed about how the word got out; I think it was leaked by Ahsan Jameel Gujjar.
Aun added, “They wanted the news about the Nikah to spread before Imran Khan changes his mind.”
Upon being asked as to why they backtracked on the development, he said, “Bibi was in Iddat at the time and we would have to face edicts if we accepted what had happened.”
On why the Nikah was solemnised in such a haste, Imran’s former aide embarrassingly said, “Bibi told us it was a ‘directive from above’. How could we possibly refuse it then?”
