ISLAMABAD: The district and sessions judge (DSJ) on Tuesday adjourned hearing on the appeals against the conviction of former prime minister Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi in a case related to contracting Nikkah during the latter’s Iddat period.

Khawar Fareed Manika's representative was noticeably absent during the court proceedings. Judge Shahrukh Arjumand presided over the appeals hearing.

Barrister Chaudhry Usama Jameel, an assistant to the complainant's main counsel, informed the judge that the lead lawyer, Raja Rizwan Abbasi, couldn't attend and requested a postponement.

Usman Riaz Gill, representing Bushra Bibi, opposed the delay, citing previous instances where adjournment requests were denied. He pointed out that the state-appointed counsel was present despite the late arrival of Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi's representatives.

Salman Akram Raja, representing Mr. Khan, argued that the chargesheet lacked his client's signature and procedural irregularities marred the trial.

Gill countered, stating that Bushra Bibi's adjournment plea due to medical reasons, supported by a doctor's report, was ignored. He alleged the denial of a fair trial and the suppression of evidence by the defense.

Additionally, Gill argued that a previous proxy application, withdrawn a day before Khawar Manika's submission, indicated bias.

Prosecutor Hassan Abbas also presented arguments.

Judge Shahrukh Arjumand adjourned the hearing until April 15, cautioning that the court would proceed with or without the complainant's counsel.

In the sleepy town of Millwood, nestled between dense forests and rolling hills, there stood an old mansion known as Blackthorn Manor. Locals whispered about its dark history, claiming it was cursed by the spirits of those who had met their demise within its walls.

The tale began in the late 1800s when the wealthy Blackthorn family first built the grand estate. From the outside, it was a marvel of architecture, but inside, it held secrets darker than the shadows that crept along its corridors.

As the years passed, tragedy struck the Blackthorn family one by one. Rumors swirled about mysterious deaths and strange occurrences. Some said the spirits of the deceased haunted the mansion, seeking revenge for their untimely demises.

Despite the warnings, curious souls dared to venture into Blackthorn Manor, drawn by its eerie allure. Among them was Sarah, a bold journalist determined to uncover the truth behind the legends.

Armed with her camera and notebook, Sarah entered the mansion, her footsteps echoing in the empty halls. As she explored the decaying rooms, she felt a chill crawl down her spine, as if unseen eyes were watching her every move.

The deeper Sarah delved into the mansion's secrets, the more she felt its malevolent presence closing in around her. Whispers echoed through the walls, and shadows danced in the corners of her vision.

In a forgotten chamber hidden beneath the main staircase, Sarah made a chilling discovery—a series of old journals belonging to the Blackthorn family. As she flipped through the yellowed pages, she uncovered tales of madness, betrayal, and occult rituals conducted in the dead of night.

But before Sarah could piece together the full extent of the mansion's dark past, she heard a blood-curdling scream pierce the silence. Heart pounding, she raced through the corridors, following the sound to the mansion's grand ballroom.

There, she found herself face to face with a specter from the past—a twisted apparition with hollow eyes and outstretched hands. Frozen in fear, Sarah watched as the ghostly figure reached out for her, its unearthly wail echoing in her ears.

With a desperate cry, Sarah fled from Blackthorn Manor, vowing never to return. But as she stepped out into the moonlit night, she knew that the horrors of the mansion would haunt her forever, a chilling reminder of the darkness that lurked within us all.

Months passed, but Sarah couldn't shake the memories of Blackthorn Manor. Nightmares plagued her sleep, visions of shadowy figures and echoing screams tormenting her every night.

Determined to unravel the mysteries of the mansion once and for all, Sarah returned to Millwood, her resolve hardened by the need for closure. Armed with research and resolve, she embarked on a quest to uncover the truth behind the cursed estate.

As she delved deeper into the town's archives and spoke to elderly residents who remembered the Blackthorn family, Sarah unearthed dark secrets buried beneath layers of lies and half-truths.

She learned of a forbidden love affair between the youngest Blackthorn daughter, Elizabeth, and a servant boy from the nearby village—a romance that ended in tragedy when their illicit relationship was discovered by the patriarch of the family.

Driven mad by grief and rage, Mr. Blackthorn delved into the occult, seeking a way to bring his beloved daughter back from the dead. He performed dark rituals within the mansion's walls, invoking powers beyond his comprehension.

But his actions unleashed forces that he could not control, and the spirits of the dead rose from their graves, seeking vengeance on those who had wronged them.

As Sarah pieced together the fragments of the past, she felt a growing sense of unease, as if the very air around her crackled with malevolent energy. She knew that she was getting closer to the truth, but with each revelation, the darkness within Blackthorn Manor threatened to consume her.

One fateful night, Sarah returned to the mansion, determined to confront the spirits that haunted its halls. Armed with a makeshift arsenal of holy water and blessed artifacts, she descended into the depths of the estate, prepared to face whatever horrors awaited her.

But as she stepped into the heart of the mansion, she found herself trapped in a nightmarish labyrinth of shifting corridors and twisting staircases. Shadows danced in the flickering candlelight, and whispers echoed through the darkness, taunting her with promises of eternal torment.

With every step, Sarah felt the weight of the past bearing down on her, the sins of the Blackthorn family pressing in from all sides. But she refused to give in to despair, drawing on reserves of courage she never knew she possessed.

Finally, she reached the chamber where it all began—the place where Elizabeth Blackthorn and her lover had met their tragic end. There, surrounded by the echoes of the past, Sarah faced the spirits that haunted the mansion, ready to confront the darkness once and for all.

In a blaze of light and fury, Sarah unleashed her arsenal against the specters, banishing them back to the realm of the dead. With a final cry, she shattered the curse that had plagued Blackthorn Manor for generations, freeing the souls trapped within its walls.

As dawn broke over Millwood, Sarah emerged from the mansion, battered but victorious. The curse of Blackthorn Manor had been broken, but its memory would live on in the annals of history, a cautionary tale of the dangers that lurked in the shadows of the past.