In a recent development, a Rawalpindi court has sentenced former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to seven years in jail each. The case revolves around their marriage during Bushra Bibi’s Iddat period. The verdict was delivered by Senior Civil Judge Qudratullah, and the court also imposed fines of Rs500,000 on both individuals.
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The couple was found guilty under Section 496 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which pertains to marriage ceremonies conducted fraudulently without lawful marriage. It’s important to note that Section 496 is distinct from the offence of ‘zina’, which results from not having a contracted marriage.
The written order specified that failure to pay the fines would result in an additional four months of imprisonment. It is noteworthy that formalising a nikah during iddat, according to Pakistan’s superior courts, is considered irregular but not void.
The charges were initially framed based on a complaint filed by Bushra Bibi’s ex-husband, Khawar Fareed Maneka, under various sections of the PPC. The Islamabad High Court later dropped the 496-B charge. Despite attempts to stop the proceedings, the trial court framed the charges, leading to the recent verdict.
Imran and Bushra were also sentenced earlier in the week in the Toshakhana case, facing 14 years of imprisonment. Imran and fellow PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi also received a 10-year-sentence in the cipher case this week. Imran Khan denied allegations of a deal resulting in his residence being declared a “sub-jail” and emphasised that the legal proceedings were an attempt to discredit his vision of establishing Pakistan on the principles of Riasat-i Madinah.
PTI to challenge the verdict in the high court
Imran Khan, vehemently denying any deal with external powers, expressed his commitment to not making any such deals in the future, stating he would “choose death over making a deal with anyone.” He claimed that the case aimed to humiliate him and his spouse and marked the first instance in history related to Iddat.
PTI and its legal team announced their intention to appeal the verdict in the high court. Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, a PTI leader, labelled the Iddat case as “shameless and baseless,” expressing hope for justice. He criticised the rapid pace of legal proceedings against PTI members and the severity of the sentences imposed.
