Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been sentenced to seven years in prison.
The sentence was handed down over allegations that their marriage violated Islamic laws. Additionally, the court has ordered both Khan and Bibi to pay a fine of 500,000 Pakistani Rupees each.
This marks the third conviction for Khan in just a week. Before this, he received a 10-year sentence in a case involving the leaking of sensitive information, and a 14-year sentence in a case related to state gifts known as the “Toshakhana case.”
The Nikah Controversy
The case that led to the recent sentencing began when Khawar Maneka, the former husband of Bushra Bibi, claimed that she married Khan during her ‘Iddat’ period—a time of waiting mandated by Islamic law after a divorce. Maneka accused the couple of not adhering to these rules and filed a case against them on November 25, 2023.
Maneka’s legal team called for severe penalties, citing various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code.
According to him, Khan visited Bushra Bibi at Maneka’s home multiple times in his absence, which led to confrontational exchanges between the two men. Maneka divorced Bushra Bibi on November 14, 2017, citing her closeness to Khan, who then married her in February 2018 in a ceremony officiated by Mufti Saeed.
Court Proceedings and Defense
Initially, Khan and Bibi did not appear in court, but later, on January 15, Bibi challenged the allegations in the Islamabad High Court. The court issued a notice to Maneka and put a temporary hold on the lower court’s proceedings, including the recording of witness statements.
Khan’s lawyer argued during the hearings that the case was intended to tarnish the political image of Khan and his wife. On the opposing side, Maneka’s lawyer raised questions about the legitimacy of the second marriage.
Mufti Saeed’s Testimony
Mufti Saeed, who officiated the couple’s marriage, provided a statement to the court claiming that Khan had requested him to officiate the marriage twice.
Saeed confirmed that the first marriage was not valid according to Islamic law, as it occurred before the completion of Bushra Bibi’s Iddat period after her divorce. Upon realizing the error, Khan supposedly arranged for a second Nikah a month later, following the proper Islamic procedures.
As a result of these proceedings, the former prime minister and his wife now face seven years of imprisonment, pending any further appeals or legal action they may pursue.
