Pakistan court upholds conviction of Imran Khan and wife for illegal marriage
- An appeals court in Pakistan upheld the conviction of former PM Imran Khan and his wife for unlawful marriage.
- The couple received a seven-year prison sentence for their 2018 marriage deemed illegal.
- Their plea to suspend the jail terms was rejected by the court.
In a recent development in Pakistan, a court in Islamabad has rejected an appeal by former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to suspend a ruling from February that deemed their 2018 marriage as violating Islamic law. The case was filed by Bibi's former husband, Khawar Maneka, who alleged that she did not observe the required three-month break under Islamic law before marrying Khan. The couple, who were sentenced to seven years in prison in February, have been entangled in legal battles since Khan's ousting in April 2022. The verdict by Judge Afzal Majoka came after the conclusion of arguments from the defense lawyer and petitioner, who is Bibi's former husband. Khan and Bibi were convicted for violating the law that mandates a woman to wait three months before remarrying. Khan, a popular opposition leader, has been serving multiple prison terms at Adiala prison in Rawalpindi and has denied any wrongdoing, with his supporters claiming the charges are politically motivated. Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, which has a strong presence in parliament, condemned the ruling, with a top party leader calling it "absolutely ridiculous." The decision comes amidst a backdrop of political turmoil in Pakistan, with Khan's party alleging electoral irregularities and interference following the February 8 vote. The country's Foreign Ministry dismissed a U.S. congressional resolution calling for an investigation into the claims, stating it stemmed from an incomplete understanding of Pakistan's political situation. The former prime minister, who served from 2018 to 2022, has been detained since August last year and barred from standing for office. Analysts suggest that Pakistan's powerful military, which has historically wielded significant influence, may be behind the legal challenges faced by Khan. Despite facing numerous legal battles and imprisonment, Khan's party continues to rally support, with his followers protesting against his arrest and demanding his release during a period of nationwide unrest in May 2023.