Khan sentenced to prison in Pakistan for third time in a week
A Pakistani court has sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to seven years in jail, saying their marriage six years ago breached Islamic law.
The couple were accused of breaking the Islamic practice of observing a waiting period of four months before remarrying.
Khan and Bibi were also each fined 500,000 rupees ($1,800).
Saturday’s ruling was the third against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party founder Khan in a week and came amid preparations for national elections on Thursday. Khan is barred from taking part.
Khan has already been sentenced to 10 years for leaking state secrets, and 14 years – along with Bibi – for illegally selling state gifts.
It was not clear if the sentences would run concurrently. He is expected to appeal in all three cases.
The couple were in court for the verdict, said Gohar Ali Khan, Imran Khan’s lawyer and interim PTI chief.
“This is to scandalise them before elections,” Gohar Ali Khan said.
Imran Khan’s multiple convictions are seen by his party and supporters as punishment for his rhetoric against Pakistan’s military leadership, which has ruled the country for half of its 76-year history.
During his final months in power, Imran Khan broadened his fight with opponents to include the military.
Speaking to The National,
Syed Shah, another of Khan’s lawyers, emphasised the importance of a woman’s statement under Islamic law when declaring the completion of her “Iddah” before remarrying.
In Islam, Iddah is the period a woman must observe after the death of her husband or after a divorce, during which she may not remarry.
“When Bushra Bibi says she has completed her Iddah, why was her statement not given importance?” Mr Shah said.
In contrast, Haji Kifayat, a lawyer and Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) official, argued that the judgment was lawful.
“Imran Khan first married Bushra Bibi during the Iddah period, and later, when they realised their mistake, they again solemnised the marriage,” he said. “Hence, their first nikah was unlawful.”
Bibi’s previous husband claimed that they divorced in November 2017, less than three months before she married Imran Khan. Bibi said they divorced in August 2017.