Image Source: Reuters
[Saba Sports News] Recently, Imran Khan, the ex-Prime Minister of Pakistan and former cricket captain, received a seven-year prison sentence, his third conviction in a single week. The conviction is linked to his marriage with Bushra Bibi, scrutinizing the timing of their wedding following Bibi’s divorce.
The court invalidated their marriage, focusing on whether it complied with the iddat period mandated by Islamic and Pakistani laws, which requires a widow or divorcee to wait before remarrying. The court’s investigation into the private aspects of their relationship, including Bibi’s menstrual cycles to establish the iddat duration, has been particularly invasive.
The legal action was initiated by Bibi’s ex-husband, Khawar Fareed Maneka, in 2023, amidst escalating legal challenges faced by Imran. Interestingly, Maneka had previously absolved Imran of any involvement in his divorce through a 2018 video statement.
Both Imran and Bibi were sentenced to seven years in prison each, with a fine of PKR 500,000. While Bibi was already under house arrest related to the Toshakhana case, the implications of this new conviction on her status are yet to be clarified.
This sentence, overlapping with Imran’s prior convictions, underscores the growing estrangement between him and the Pakistani state. Imran’s political party, PTI, criticized the judgement, claiming a denial of fair defense for Khan and Bibi, and anticipates its dismissal by higher courts.
The verdict, denounced by Imran’s lawyer as unjust, comes amidst an already tense political environment marked by election restrictions and human rights concerns. With political rallies disrupted and a ban on mentioning Imran’s name on TV, the International Federation for Human Rights has voiced concerns over the neglect of justice and due process principles.
Despite the legal and political hurdles, Imran Khan remains a significant figure in Pakistan, with his popularity sustained in independent polls. The ongoing legal saga and its implications for Pakistan’s political scene are closely monitored, as appeals against the convictions are planned.