Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, have been sentenced to seven years in prison by a Pakistani court for violating marriage laws, according to officials and a lawyer familiar with the case.
This recent ruling adds to Khan’s legal woes, coming shortly after he and his wife were handed a 14-year prison sentence earlier in the week for corruption charges. These developments have emerged just ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for February 8, where Khan has already been disqualified due to previous graft convictions, putting his party in a challenging position for the upcoming campaign.
This marks Khan’s fourth conviction since his ousting from power in 2022, with his cumulative sentences totaling 34 years, to be served concurrently.
Observers suggest that Khan’s rapid succession of convictions may be perceived by his party and supporters as retribution for his outspoken criticism of Pakistan’s influential military leadership, which has wielded significant power throughout the country’s history. During his tenure in office, Khan escalated tensions with the military, broadening his confrontations beyond political rivals to include the military establishment.
The defense attorney for the couple, Intisar Panjutha, confirmed that the verdict was delivered by Judge Qudrat Ullah shortly after the conclusion of the trial. Khan and his family maintain that the legal proceedings against them are politically motivated.
According to the prosecution, Khan and Bibi violated the law requiring a woman to observe a three-month waiting period before remarrying. Bibi, Khan’s third wife, had been previously married to a man who claimed they divorced in November 2017, less than three months before her marriage to Khan. However, Bibi contends that the divorce took place in August 2017.
Both Khan and Bibi denied breaching the three-month waiting period, which is a requirement under Islamic law and upheld by Pakistani statutes.
The ruling has drawn condemnation from Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, with its leader, Gohar Khan, asserting that they will appeal the verdict. He labeled the case against Khan and Bibi as baseless, despite the maximum prison sentences imposed by the court.
In addition to the prison terms, the couple has been fined 500,000 rupees ($1,800) each.
Khan is currently serving his multiple prison sentences at Adiala prison in Rawalpindi, where his trials were conducted due to security concerns. He faces over 150 legal cases, including charges of inciting violence following his arrest in May 2023. Khan’s supporters engaged in nationwide riots during his arrest, attacking military installations and government buildings until his release was secured by the Supreme Court.
Furthermore, Khan and Bibi are implicated in another corruption case, allegedly involving favoritism towards a property developer in exchange for the establishment of an Islamic university.