The Islamabad District and Sessions Court has dismissed the appeals of PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, against their convictions in the iddat nikah case.
District and Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka pronounced the reserved decision on Thursday, rejecting the appeals for the suspension of their sentences. As a result, the couple’s sentences remain in effect. The PTI has announced plans to challenge this decision in the Islamabad High Court immediately.
The couple had initially appealed their seven-year prison sentence, which was handed down by Senior Civil Judge Qudratullah on February 3. The conviction was based on the claim that their nikah took place during Bushra Bibi’s iddat period following her divorce from Khawar Maneka, which is against Shariah law. Additionally, both were fined Rs500,000 each. If the fine is not paid, they will serve an additional four months in jail.
The decision was delivered at Adiala Jail, where Imran Khan is currently incarcerated. The 50-page judgment issued by Senior Civil Judge Qudratullah found the defendants guilty under Section 496 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). The decision was announced in open court, with copies provided to the accused.
Judge Majoka had reserved his verdict on June 25, with the hearing on central appeals against the sentence adjourned until July 2. The decision followed a series of hearings, the most recent on June 14, during which Judge Majoka remarked that he would deliver a decision within ten days if he remained alive.
The court proceedings saw numerous delays and legal maneuvers since the initial hearings. On June 13, Judge Majoka noted that the case had faced expressions of no-confidence twice before. This followed a June 7 hearing where appeals for an early hearing and suspension of the sentence were also postponed.
The case centers around allegations that Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi married during her iddat period, a waiting period a Muslim woman must observe after the death of her husband or a divorce before she can remarry. This led to Bushra Bibi’s ex-husband, Khawar Maneka, filing a case against the couple in the court of Islamabad Civil Judge Qudratullah on November 25, 2023.
