Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi acquitted in Iddat case

Court orders immediate release of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi unless they are wanted in other cases

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi have been acquitted in the Iddat case.

Islamabad's District and Sessions Court led by Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka had earlier reserved its decision on the appeals against the sentences of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi in the iddat marriage case.

Short order issued by court says Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi should be immediately released unless they were wanted in other cases.

The court's written order is expecxted soon.

Several PTI activists and supporters of Imran Khan had gathered outside the court premises to stage rallies, but the atmosphere reportedly changed to celebration as soon as the verdict was announced.

Imran and Bushra Bibi were sentenced in the Iddat Nikkah case a few days before the February 8 general elections in the country. Several civil rights activists and legal experts had condemned the initial conviction handed to the PTI founding leader and his wife. 

The couple had filed an appeal against their convictions.

Additional District and Sessions judge Afzal Majoka during a hearing on Friday had remarked that the ideology about jurisprudence matters could not be challenged in the court.

Earlier, during the hearing of the appeal, Judge Majoka also remarked that under the Hanafi jurisprudence when divorce is pronounced three times, there would be no reproach, and hence no requirement for Iddat.

On July 3, Sessions court Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka emphasised that the verdict in the Imran Khan-Bushra Bibi Nikkah Iddat case will be announced by July 12.

An Islamabad court had on June 27 rejected pleas seeking the suspension of sentences handed down to PTI founding chairman Imran and his wife Bushra Bibi in the iddat (mandatory waiting period for Muslim women between two marriages) case.

The founding chairman has faced a barrage of cases especially after May 9, 2023. He has been granted bail in many of thoses cases and with the Toshakhana case sentences suspended and the acquittal in the cipher case, the PTI supremo now remains incarcerated at Adiala jail solely in the Iddat case.

The Iddat case

On February 3, Imran and Bushra Bibi were sentenced to seven years imprisonment and Rs 500,000 fine each in the Iddat Nikkah case. Twenty days later, the appeal against the verdict was filed in the sessions court. Judge Arjumand heard the appeal and was expected to announce his ruling on May 29, when he requested the IHC to send the case to another judge.

On June 9, Bushra Bibi filed a petition in the IHC seeking the suspension of her conviction and sentencing in the Iddat case.

On June 11, the court questioned the validity of a judge's recusal from the case, suggesting that the reason for withdrawal might not be justified.

On June 13, the IHC ordered the additional sessions court of Islamabad to decide the appeals of PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra against their conviction in the Iddat Nikkah case in one month.

Later, the IHC transferred the case to ADSJ Muhammad Afzal Majoka. Imran and Bibi challenged the transfer of the appeal in the IHC through lawyer Salman Akram Raja. However, the registrar's office raised the objection that the appeal was pending before the session court.