Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Khan, have been sentenced to seven years in prison. A court ruled on Saturday that their 2018 marriage violated the law, marking the third legal setback for Khan in a single week, all unfolding in the lead-up to Thursday’s national elections from which he is disqualified.
The court’s decision adds to Khan’s mounting legal challenges, including a 10-year sentence for disclosing state secrets and a 14-year sentence, shared with his wife, for the illegal sale of state gifts. Khan, who is currently serving time in Rawalpindi’s prison, and Bushra Bibi, destined for house arrest in their Islamabad mansion, plan to appeal against all convictions. It remains unclear whether the sentences will be served concurrently.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Khan’s political party, criticized the trial’s expedited nature, stating, “After hours of rushed hearings at court, no cross-examination of witnesses, and no due process – a mockery of the law.” The party also expressed concerns over the legitimacy of the upcoming elections, framing the trials as a crucial test for Pakistan’s judiciary.
Security officers escort Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan, as he appeared in Islamabad High Court, Islamabad, Pakistan May 12, 2023. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro
The controversy at the heart of this case revolves around the Islamic waiting period known as “Iddat,” which Bushra was accused of not observing between her divorce from previous husband Khawar Maneka and her marriage to Khan. Despite initial denials from PTI, the marriage was later confirmed, though the timing relative to the completion of Iddat remained contentious.
The fine levied against the couple amounts to 500,000 rupees ($1,800). Khan, a former cricket icon turned politician, has frequently described Bushra as his spiritual guide, emphasizing her influence and devotion to Sufism, a mystical Islamic belief system.
This latest judgment complicates Khan’s already precarious political standing following his 2022 removal from office via a parliamentary vote of no-confidence—a move he alleges was orchestrated by the military. Khan’s tenure and subsequent ousting have been marked by a series of legal battles and claims of a military-backed crackdown against him, his supporters, and PTI members—a charge the military denies.
