A court in Islamabad has announced seven years in jail sentence to PTI founder chairman Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in nikkah-without-iddat case.
The court also imposed fine of Rs.500,000 on each on “violation of Shariah laws while performing marriage.” Both will face another four months jail in case they do not pay fine, the court orders.
Judge Qudratullah announced the verdict in presence of Imran and Bushra and their lawyers. The couple is already in jail under different charges.
An accountability court has earlier awarded 14 years each sentence to them in Toshakhana case.
The former prime minister and his second-in-command in the PTI, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, were given 10 years each jail sentence in Cipher case.
Another court on the petition of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced three-year imprisonment to Imran Khan in seperate Toshakhana verdict. However, the Islamabad High Court later suspended the sentence.
Imran has already been disqualified for holding any public office for next ten years.
The three verdicts in a row just days before the general elections set 31 years of collective sentence to Imran Khan.
PTI reaction:
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has termed the latest verdict a total mockery of justice, announcing to file an appeal against it.
PTI chairman Gohar Ali Khan the case was the complete fraud without any head or tail and a part of ongoing political victimisation of party’s founder chairman. He said the PTI still believed it will get justice, appealing the masses to stay calm and respond to the injustice and cruelty with the power of vote.
“Come out of your homes on February 8 and vote for the PTI candidates to get justice for Imran Khan.”
Proceedings and trial:
As per details, Khawar Manika—the ex-husband of Bushra Bibi—has filed the case of illegal nikah without iddat against Imran and his wife.
Both sides completed the arguments, and the court reserved the verdict Friday night. Islamic Shariah has made the four-month pause mandatory for a woman for a second marriage in case of divorce or death of her husband.
Manika, who, according to many, enjoyed all perks during the government of the PTI, filed the case against Imran and Bushra a couple of months ago.
Know lawyer Salman Akram Raja represented Imran Khan in the case.
Imran and Bushra also recorded their statements under section 342 of the law as the court provided them with a questionnaire comprising 15 questions.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) in 2020 ruled in a case that a marriage without completing iddat cannot be treated as void.
The witnesses in the case have already recorded their statements. The proceedings continued till 11 pm. Witnesses Khawar Manika, Mufti Saeed, Aun Chaudhry and Muhammad Latif also underwent cross-examination.
Senior judge Qudratullah presided over the hearing and reserved the verdict.
