In another blow to Pakistan’s former Prime Minister, Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi have been sentenced to seven years in jail in a case related to the Nikkah during the Iddat period.
Senior civil judge Qudratullah announced its verdict in the illegal nikkah case against PTI founder and Bushra Begum.
Former prime minister Imran Khan and Bushra’s statements were recorded under section 342 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Mufti Saeed, Khawar Manka, Aon Chaudhry, and Muhammad Latif recorded their statement.
Imran Khan’s marriage with ex-first lady Bushra Bibi was surfaced as he was accused of violating Shariah law, the cleric, who performed the Nikah, and journalist said. The legal action was sought against Imran Khan for marrying his present wife while she was in her Iddat period.
The sentencing in Nikah case, days after Khan and his wife were given prison term in Toshakhana case. The former premier has already in jail since August 2023, facing trial in scores of cases.
Bushra Bibi rejects the accusations
Imran’s third wife Bushra said the account of her divorce in November 2017 was a complete sham. As per her statement, Kahwar Maneka divorced her in April 2017 after which she had completed her waiting period by August.
She mentioned moving to her mother’s house and then married Imran Khan in January next year. Bushra said she completed her Iddat before tying Imran Khan. Her statement added that she met with Khan in the presence of her family before January 01, 2018.
Furthermore, Bushra said, it was not nikkah, but an event to hold prayers and said the case related to illegal and unislamic marriage is not real.
PTI to move High Court in un-Islamic case
Following the controversial announcement, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) announced that it would approach the high court against the sentecne in Nikah case.
Party senior leader Barrister Gohar Ayub said trial court judge QudratUllah has not handed them the verdict copy, lamenting political victimisation ahead of elections.
Iddat period
In Shariah, iddat is referred to as the period a woman must observe following the death of her husband or after a divorce. In the duration, the woman cannot marry another man and maintains some practices.
Pakistani ex-PM Imran Khan got hitched to Bushra Bibi in Feb 2018, and Mufti Saeed solamnised their Nikah.
According to Mufti Saeed’s statement, he solemnised Nikah in DHa where the cleric met the relatives of both Bushra and Khan. He mentioned asking Bushra about her first marriage and separation.
The cleric said a woman, claiming to be Bushra Bibi’s sister, told him that all Shariah requirements for marriage were fulfilled. Consequently, he solamised the Nikah. However, the cleric recalled that Khan approached him again in February 2018, seeking another Nikah with same woman, citing that the initial one went against Islamic principles.
Mufti Saeed further revealed that he was informed about Nikah taking place during Bushra Bibi’s Iddat, after her divorce in November 2017. He said Khan married Bushra in haste to achieve premiership.
Khan and Bushra were accused of intentionally entering into un-Islamic marriage for the sake of a prediction.
This is a developing story, and will be updated shortly…
