Pakistan court orders Imran Khan, wife be freed ‘immediately’ in case over violating marriage law
Pakistan court orders Imran Khan, wife be freed ‘immediately’ in case over violating marriage law
ISLAMABAD: A district and sessions court on Saturday accepted appeals filed by former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Khan seeking the suspension of a ruling that they had violated the country’s marriage law, and ordered the pair be “immediately” released from prison, the ex-premier’s party said.
Khan and his wife were sentenced to seven years in prison and fined in February by a court that ruled their 2018 marriage broke the law. Bushra was accused of not completing the waiting period mandated by Islam, called “Iddat,” after divorcing her previous husband and marrying Khan.
The Khans signed their marriage contract, or “Nikkah,” in January 2018 in a secret ceremony seven months before the former cricket superstar became prime minister for the first time. There was controversy over whether they had wed before the Iddat period was complete. After initial denials of the marriage, Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf confirmed it weeks later.
The Khans both deny wrongdoing in the Iddat case.
“Additional Session Judge Afzal Majoka has dismissed charges on Mr.& Mrs.Khan in Iddat case, ordering his release,” Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said in a message to reporters. “So far Mr.Khan has no case that could keep him in prison, unless of course there’s a concealed one which his legal team isn’t aware of.”
Pakistani local media also widely reported on the acquittal.
“If they are not wanted in any other case, then PTI founder Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi should be released [from jail] immediately,” Dawn newspaper reported Judge Majoka as ordering after accepting the appeals and suspending the conviction.
Khan has been in jail after being convicted in four cases since last August. Two of the cases have since been suspended and he was acquitted in a third, so the Iddat case was the only one keeping him in prison. An anti-terrorism court earlier this week also dismissed three bail pleas by Khan in cases involving riots on May 9 last year and declaring there was “reasonable” evidence of his involvement.
“ATC has canceled bail [in May 9 cases] but not ordered arrest,” the PTI said. “Pre-arrest bail is being moved.”
The PTI said Bushra had bail in the Toshakhana case, in which a Pakistani anti-graft court jailed Khan and his wife for 14 years each on charges of illegally selling state gifts.
“She has bail in the Toshakhana case so there is no legal reason to keep her in jail,” PTI senior leader Zulfi Bukhari said in a text message. “Anything to keep her imprisoned will be illegal.”
Khan’s convictions had ruled the 71-year-old out of the February general elections as convicted felons cannot run for public office under Pakistani law. Arguably Pakistan’s most popular politician, Khan says all cases against him are motivated to keep him out of politics.
The criminal complaint against Khan and Bushra’s marriage was brought by her ex-husband, Khawar Maneka, to whom she was married for about 30 years.
Khan has often called Bushra his spiritual leader. She is known for her devotion to Sufism, a mystical form of Islam.
Born Bushra Riaz Watto, she changed her name to Khan after her marriage. Her husband and followers commonly refer to her as Bushra Bibi or Bushra Begum, titles that denote respect in the Urdu language.
Khan’s two previous marriages — to Jemima Goldsmith, daughter of tycoon James Goldsmith, and television journalist Reham Nayyar Khan — ended in divorce.
(With Inputs From Agencies)