Imran Khan, wife Bushra Bibi acquitted in Iddat case

A district and sessions court on Saturday has acquitted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in the iddat case.

Additional Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka announced short order reserved earlier in the day.

The duo was sentenced to seven years in prison and awarded a fine of Rs500,000 each, in February. They were found guilty by trial court as Khawar Maneka, Bushra’s ex-husband, moved the court against the couple’s marriage.

They had then challenged their conviction and had even moved the IHC seeking varying relief from the court.

However, the court termed the petition “inadmissible” and said that it fell outside its jurisdiction, prior to which the petitioner withdrew his plea.

Moreover, Khan is also facing multiple charges ranging from corruption to terrorism since his removal as the premier.

He has been in prisoned since August last year after he was sentenced in the Toshakhana case and subsequently sentenced in other cases ahead of the February 8 elections.

Trial court Judge Shahrukh Arjumand had reserved the verdict on the couple’s plea challenging their conviction on May 23.

Under Muslim law, women are prohibited from remarrying for a few months after their husband dies or they are divorced.

They tied the knot in 2018, months before Khan was elected prime minister.

Bibi, a spiritual healer believed to be in her 40s and who always wears a veil in public, is Khan’s third wife.

Iddat case

The PTI founder and his wife were slapped with a seven-year jail sentence each. Apart from that the court had imposed a fine of 500,000 rupees on the couple.

Khawar Maneka, Bushra’s ex-husband, had moved the court against the couple’s marriage.

The court termed the petition “inadmissible” and said that it fell outside its jurisdiction, prior to which the petitioner withdrew his plea.

Moreover, Khan is also facing multiple charges ranging from corruption to terrorism since his removal as the premier.

He has been in prisoned since August last year after he was sentenced in the Toshakhana case and subsequently sentenced in other cases ahead of the February 8 elections.