The couple was convicted in February when a judge ruled their marriage was un-Islamic and illegal.
A Pakistan court has granted relief to former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, by accepting their appeals against their convictions in a case that declared their marriage un-Islamic and illegal.
The court ordered their immediate release from jail pending any other charges. Islamabad's Additional District and Sessions Judge Afzal Majoka announced the judgment at 3 pm on Saturday.
He stated, "If they are not wanted in any other case, PTI founder Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi should be released immediately." The verdict also rejected petitions for a medical board and religious scholar consultations.
The couple was convicted on February 3 after a complaint from Bibi’s former husband claimed their marriage violated Muslim family law. Islamic law requires a Muslim widow or divorcee to observe “iddat,” a waiting period, before remarrying. The judge fined Mr. Khan and Ms. Bibi PKR500,000 (£1,420) and sentenced them to seven years in jail.
Syed Zulfikar Bukhari, a close aide to Khan and a senior official in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, stated, “The case has not only been thrown out but also the judge has ordered the immediate release of Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi.” He warned that if the case had not been dismissed, it would have set a dangerous precedent for women in the country.
According to the Quran, women must observe specific waiting periods before remarrying to ensure clarity regarding paternity. Mr. Khan, ousted as prime minister in 2022, has been in prison since August 2023 for allegedly hiding assets. His party claims the charges were politically motivated and the election was rigged.
