Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi received a significant judicial reprieve when a district and sessions court accepted their appeals for annulment of their conviction in the iddat case, often referred to as the un-Islamic nikah case. Additional Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka issued the reserved order today.
Previously, the couple faced a seven-year prison sentence each and a fine of Rs500,000 after being convicted of fraudulent marriage practices in February. This decision came after Khawar Maneka, Bushra’s ex-husband, challenged their marriage in court.
Following their conviction, the couple sought relief from the Islamabad High Court (IHC), which directed a swift review of their appeals. Despite obtaining bail in several other cases and the acquittal in the cipher case, Khan remains incarcerated due to the ongoing iddat case.
The Islamabad High Court recently mandated a quick decision on these appeals, leading to today’s favourable outcome for Khan and Bushra. In a 10-page order, the court stated there was no justification for suspending the sentence, leading to a significant outcry from PTI supporters and a swift declaration from the opposition leader to challenge this decision in a higher court.
The iddat case centres on allegations that Bushra Bibi remarried too soon after her divorce, violating Islamic precepts. Initially dismissed as inadmissible by a district court, the case was later pursued by Maneka, leading to the couple’s indictment and subsequent conviction early this year.
The case’s complexity continues as both sides prepare for further legal battles, highlighting the personal and political turmoil surrounding Khan and his party.
