A local court in Islamabad is set to announce a verdict today (Thursday) on the pleas filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, seeking the suspension of their sentences in the iddat case. This decision could potentially end the former prime minister’s imprisonment.
Imran Khan, who was ousted from power through an opposition no-confidence motion in April 2022, has faced numerous charges, including corruption and terrorism, since his removal. He has been in jail since August last year following his sentencing in the Toshakhana case, with additional convictions in other cases preceding the February 8 elections.
Despite obtaining relief in cases like the £190 million reference and Toshakhana, and his recent acquittal in the cipher case, Khan remains imprisoned due to his conviction in the iddat case. In February this year, a district court sentenced both Khan and Bushra Bibi to seven years in prison after ruling their nikah fraudulent, based on a complaint from Bushra’s ex-husband, Khawar Maneka, who argued the marriage took place during Bushra’s iddat period (a time of isolation following a divorce or a husband’s death).
Following their conviction, Khan and Bushra Bibi filed several appeals, including those seeking the suspension of their sentences. Trial court Judge Shahrukh Arjumand reserved the verdict on their appeals on May 23. However, due to Maneka’s repeated expressions of no-confidence, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) transferred the case to the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majuka at Judge Arjumand’s request.
On June 25, the district and sessions court reserved its verdict on the pleas against Khan and Bushra’s conviction, following directives from the IHC to resolve the suspension of the sentences within 10 days. The court also allowed one month to decide on the couple’s petition against their conviction. Meanwhile, Bushra Bibi sought a decision on her plea for sentence suspension.
The reserved verdict will be announced at 3 PM today (Thursday), with the hearing on the couple’s pleas for annulment of their conviction set to resume on July 2. PTI is hopeful for a favorable decision as Khan has been acquitted in some cases or granted bail in others. However, the government may attempt to prevent Khan’s release, as Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah recently indicated plans to file new cases against the imprisoned PTI founder.
