An Islamabad District and Sessions Court on Saturday accepted the appeals filed by the former Prime Minister and his wife, Bushra Bibi, against their earlier conviction. This decision resolves the last legal issue that had kept Imran Khan detained.
The couple had been convicted on February 3 in the Iddat case, just days before General Elections. The case was initiated based on a complaint by Bushra Bibi’s ex-husband, Khawar Fareed Maneka, who alleged that they had married during her Iddat period. Senior Civil Judge Qudratullah had initially sentenced Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi to seven years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs 500,000 each. This verdict had drawn criticism from civil society, women’s activists, and legal experts.
Previously, District and Sessions Judge Shahrukh Arjumand had been overseeing the case and had reserved judgment in May. However, citing a request from Maneka for recusal from the case, Judge Arjumand sought its transfer on the day of the expected verdict announcement. Subsequently, the case was transferred to Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Majoka’s court.
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Last month, ADSJ Majoka had rejected another set of pleas from Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi seeking the suspension of their sentences. However, today, AD&SJ Afzal Majoka announced the decision to accept their appeals, stating, “If they are not wanted in any other case, then PTI founder Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi should be released immediately.”
Earlier in the day, Maneka had filed applications related to medical checkups and religious consultations concerning Iddat, which the Judge dismissed.
The Judgment removes the final legal obstacle that had kept Imran Khan in jail, as he had already been acquitted in several other cases, including those related to Toshakhana and Cipher, which were filed after the events of May 9, 2023. That day, his initial arrest had sparked nationwide unrest, prompting a subsequent crackdown by the state on him and his party, PTI.
