Pakistan Ex-PM Imran Khan and Wife Jailed for 7 Years for Unlawful Marriage

Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, and his wife Bushra Khan have been sentenced to seven years in prison and fined by a court, ruling that their 2018 marriage violated the law, as reported by his political party. This marks the third ruling against Khan in a week, preceding national elections where he is disqualified from contesting. Recent convictions include 10 years for leaking state secrets and 14 years for illegally selling state gifts. Appeals are planned for all three cases. Khan is currently incarcerated in Rawalpindi, while his wife serves her sentence in Islamabad. He also faces a 10-year disqualification from public office.

The legal issues surrounding the marriage involve allegations that Bushra did not complete the Islamic waiting period, "Iddat," after her previous divorce before marrying Khan. The couple signed their marriage contract in January 2018, seven months before Khan became prime minister. Controversy arose over the timing of their wedding, initially denied but later confirmed by Khan's party. The court fined both Khans 500,000 rupees ($1,800).

The accusations stem from a criminal complaint filed by Bushra's ex-husband, Khawar Maneka, who married her for about 30 years. Khan has referred to Bushra as his spiritual leader due to her devotion to Sufism. The couple's meeting details remain unclear, but Khan's aide mentioned his admiration for her spirituality.

Imran Khan, once known for his playboy image in the 1990s, claims to be deeply interested in Sufism. His previous marriages to Jemima Goldsmith and Reham Nayyar Khan ended in divorce. Since his 2022 parliamentary removal, Khan alleges a military-backed crackdown on his party, with arrests and cases against supporters. The military denies involvement, and Khan asserts his removal resulted from a fallout while in office.

As the election approaches, the legal challenges and political turbulence surrounding Khan raise questions about the fairness of the trials and the electoral process. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has a history of investigating and trying prime ministers, including Nawaz Sharif, whose party leads the polls.

पाकिस्तान: पूर्व पीएम इमरान खान और पत्नी को अवैध विवाह के लिए 7 साल की सजा।